WNBA rookie tracker: Clark, Fever pull out win against the Dream (2024)

ESPN

Jun 13, 2024, 11:23 PM ET

The 2024 WNBA season is about a quarter way through a 40-game schedule. And all eyes are on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and one of the most anticipated rookie classes in league history.

The rookie class is loaded with potential future stars. In addition to Clark, forwards Cameron Brink, the No. 2 draft pick with the Los Angeles Sparks, and Angel Reese, the No. 7 pick to the Chicago Sky, are among the rookies consistently in starting lineups.

How are the top rookies playing? We'll track their performances every time they take the court, so check back every game day.

Last updated: June 13

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats

Last time out: The Fever had a listless 89-72 loss at Connecticut on Monday and needed a better showing in front of their home crowd Thursday in Indianapolis. They got it with a 91-84 victory over the Atlanta Dream. Clark had 7 points on 3 of 11 shooting, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. She played a team-high 35 minutes and had a plus/minus of plus-2. Turnovers have been Clark's bugaboo; she had 7. But in crunch time after the Dream rallied, the Fever took pretty good care of the ball and closed out the victory to move to 4-10.

What we learned: The Fever's 59 first-half points were the franchise's most in a half since 2020, and Indiana's ball movement was a key to that. Points were harder to come by in the second half, especially in the Fever's 14-point third quarter. In fact, it seemed as if all the Fever's good work in the first half might be undone when Atlanta took the lead with 3:37 left in the game. But Indiana battled back on a combined 12 points from Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, plus forced Atlanta into back-to-back shot-clock violations. Clark was part of that defensive effort. Boston, last season's WNBA Rookie of the Year, tied career highs in points (27) and field goals (12) and was one off her career high in rebounds (13). Coach Christie Sides, who criticized the Fever's effort Monday, was much happier on Thursday. "We have a set of standards," Sides said. "I thought we didn't meet those the other night against Connecticut and [the players] thought the same. I thought they did it tonight." -- Michael Voepel

Up next: vs. Chicago Sky on Sunday (Noon ET, CBS)

Angel Reese, Chicago Sky

Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Reese led the Sky in scoring (20 points) and rebounding (10, including 4 offensive) in their 83-75 home loss to the Connecticut Sun. It marked her fourth consecutive double-double, breaking a tie with Sylvia Fowles (three) for the longest such streak by a Sky rookie in franchise history. Reese also tallied 2 steals and 1 assist, though she struggled at times and had 4 turnovers (all while going up against 2023 MVP runner-up Alyssa Thomas) and five fouls, four in the second half.

What we learned: Reese put together the most efficient performance of her pro career with 8-for-10 shooting -- previously she had never shot above 50% from the floor and hadn't made more than five field goals in a game. All but one of her attempts were within 3 feet of the rim, but she found success in transition or in set offenses beyond putbacks, one of her strong suits.

Reese's big night was not only critical with the rest of her team struggling to convert from the floor (41.7%), but it signified her growth in going up against physical pro players, particularly a tough defensive team in Connecticut. -- Alexa Philippou

Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky

Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Cardoso notched her first consecutive double-digit scoring games of the season with 10 points (3-for-7 from the field, 4-for-4 from the free throw line), while also recording 3 blocks and 3 turnovers. Cardoso and Reese led the team in rebounding, the former collecting nine boards, a season high.

What we learned: Coach Teresa Weatherspoon said pregame Cardoso is finally off her minutes restriction, and so the 6-foot-7 center ended up playing a season-high 30 minutes, though the coach went with Isabelle Harrison down low for most of the fourth. Cardoso's most memorable moments of the night came on the defensive end, where her three blocks were big crowd pleasers. As she continues to find her footing on the floor, and is tasked with more responsibility for however long Elizabeth Williams is out with a knee injury, Cardoso could be poised to emerge as another consistent double-double alongside Reese. --Philippou

Up next: at Washington Mystics on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)

Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks

Forward | 6-foot-4 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Most WNBA rookies almost always go through some inconsistency. And it's fair to say that has been the case so far with Brink and fellow lottery pick Rickea Jackson. Brink was 2-of-7 for 7 points, plus 4 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in Tuesday's 95-79 loss at Seattle. The score is a little misleading; the Sparks trailed by just five points with 4 minutes left before the Storm stepped on the gas.

What we learned: Offense has been the up-and-down part of Brink's first season, but that's not all on her considering how the Sparks haven't consistently been able to get her good looks in the post.

But defensively, at least with her shot-blocking, she has been consistent. Tuesday, Brink tied Phoenix's Brittney Griner for most blocks through the first 12 games of a WNBA career with 34. That's second only to Margo Dydek's 37. (And for younger or new WNBA fans, Dydek was 7-foot-2.) -- Michael Voepel

Up next: at Minnesota Lynx on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)

Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats

Last time out: Jackson was limited to 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting, with 1 rebound, in the Sparks' 95-79 loss at Seattle on Tuesday. This came after she had tied her season high with 16 points Sunday at Las Vegas.

Jackson played just 16 minutes against the Storm, one of four starters who played 19 minutes or less.

What we learned: Other than starter Dearica Hamby, the Sparks don't have a player they can be sure is going to be productive every night. Tuesday, Hamby did her thing -- 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists -- and got the most help from Los Angeles' bench, not the other starters. Four Sparks reserves played 22 minutes or more, and the bench combined for 47 points.

We'll have to see what that might mean going forward for Brink, who has started every game, and Jackson, who has started the past seven. -- Voepel