WNBA rookie tracker: Clark again ties franchise mark with 13 assists in Fever's win
The 2024 WNBA draft class was one of the most anticipated groups of rookies in league history.
And now they’re etching their names in the history books.
On Sunday, Angel Reese recorded her 13th consecutive double-double, a league record (she has extended it to 15 as of Thursday).
On Saturday, Caitlin Clark became the first rookie in the WNBA to tally a triple-double. April’s No. 1 draft pick had 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to help the Indiana Fever complete a fourth-quarter comeback and beat the New York Liberty 83-78.
We’re tracking performances from top rookies every game day this season. Players will be added or subtracted based on performance and injury.
Last updated: July 12
Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats
Last time out: The Fever went from a big rally that fell short Wednesday to forcing Phoenix’s big rally to fall short Friday. And in both games, Clark piled up stats.
With Friday’s 95-86 victory against the Mercury, she became the first WNBA rookie to have two games in a season with at least 20 points and 10 assists. Angel McCoughtry did it in 2009 for the Atlanta Dream.
Clark finished with 20 points, 13 assists and 6 rebounds Friday; she has had 13 assists four times this season.
Clark has 96 points and 62 assists in her past five games. She is the first WNBA player to have 90 points and 60 assists in any five-game span. Her 232 points scored or assisted on in that span are the most in WNBA history.
Clark has scored or assisted on 818 points this season, the most in the league. She and Aliyah Boston (21 points, 13 rebounds) are the first Fever teammates to have 20-point double-doubles in the same game.
What we learned: Indiana led by as many as 31 points in the third quarter, which the injury-riddled Mercury cut all the way down to four in the fourth period. But Indiana held on to move to 10-14 on the season. The Fever are in seventh place in the WNBA standings with two games left before the All Star/Olympic break.
Friday, the Fever were in the exact opposite position they were in Wednesday against Washington. Against the Mystics, Indiana trailed by 21 going into the fourth quarter but cut the deficit to three. Washington held on in a difficult loss for the Fever. But they came out strong Friday and looked to be running away with the game late in the third quarter before the Mercury’s big comeback.
Afterward, coach Christie Sides said the Mercury’s zone defense — which they were pretty much forced into as they were down to five available players in the fourth quarter — seemed to rattle the Fever.
She also said the Fever’s lapse shouldn’t have happened.
“That is the energy and focus you have to have, and you have to sustain that for 40 minutes,” Sides said. “You can’t have the drop-offs.” — Michael Voepel
Up next: at Minnesota Lynx on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
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Angel Reese’s late flurry secures her 15th straight double-double
Angel Reese hits a bucket and grabs a couple rebounds to secure her 15th straight double-double.
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Reese got a record-extending 15th double-double Thursday, though the Liberty made her work hard for it as the Sky lost 91-76 in Brooklyn.
Reese was 5-of-17 from the field as post players Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart and the rest of the Liberty defense did all they could to clog the lane against her. Stewart and Jones, both former MVPs, combined for 37 points, 17 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 blocks.
Reese also had 1 assist and 1 block as the Sky have gone 1-2 so far against the Liberty this season. Reese has averaged 12.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in those games. The teams meet for fourth time Saturday.
What we learned: The Sky led by 13 about midway through the second quarter before the Liberty began to turn things around. New York cut the lead to two by halftime, took a one-point lead after three quarters and dominated the fourth quarter. The Sky at 9-13 are still in seventh place in the standings. — Voepel
Up next: vs. New York Liberty on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Cardoso was efficient offensively in the Sky’s 91-76 loss at New York. She was 4-of-5 from the field for eight points, with seven rebounds and one assist.
Despite the loss, the Sky continue to be the league’s top rebounding team, averaging 36.6 per game. They won the battle on the boards 36-30 against the Liberty.
What we learned: The Sky’s inside duo couldn’t contain their Liberty counterparts on Thursday, but considering the experience level of Stewart and Jones, that is to be expected. The contrast in ability to get to the line was stark: Neither Cardoso nor Reese shot a free throw, while Stewart and Jones were a combined 12-of-12 from the line. — Voepel
Up next: vs. New York Liberty on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Edwards really asserted herself Wednesday in the Mystics’ 89-84 victory at Indiana. She finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists coming off the bench. Edwards played 21 minutes and was one of five Washington players who scored in double figures, led by Ariel Atkins (26 points).
What we learned: The Mystics moved to 6-17 and got their third victory on the road. Washington lost two previous games to the Fever this season and face them once more, in the regular-season finale Sept. 19. — Voepel
Up next: vs. Las Vegas Aces on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS SN)
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Tuesday, Jackson was held to single digits scoring – 6 points – for the first time since June 22. She was 3 of 8 from the field with 1 rebound in 24 minutes of court time in the Sparks’ 82-67 loss to visiting Minnesota. Jackson was coming off a season-high 22 points Sunday against Phoenix. Consistency is one of the hardest parts of adjusting to the WNBA for rookies, but Jackson wasn’t alone in struggling against the Lynx. The only Sparks player who scored in double figures was veteran forward Dearica Hamby with 18 points. It was Los Angeles’ second-lowest point total this season; the lowest was 62 on June 5, also in a loss to the Lynx. Minnesota leads the WNBA in defensive rating.
What we learned: From June 9 to July 9, the Sparks went 2-10. Both victories came against the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington are all tied now for last place in the WNBA at 5-17. The Sparks have two games left before the All-Star/Olympic break. — Voepel
Up next: at Dallas Wings on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
