The first month of the 2024 WNBA season is in the books, which means it’s time to dish out some accolades. For the rookies, one name rose to the top — and it’s one you’ve probably heard before.
Fever guard Caitlin Clark snagged the WNBA Rookie of the Month award for May. After dazzling audiences during her stellar NCAA career at Iowa, Clark hit the ground running in the professional ranks. While she might not yet be schooling the pros as she did in college, it’s only natural — after all, the WNBA boasts the crème de la crème of women’s basketball talent.
This accolade comes hot on the heels of a spicy encounter with Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter, stirring up a cocktail of controversy and backlash for the league’s newest sensation.
So, does Clark truly deserve the Rookie of the Month crown, or are the critics onto something? Was she the undeniable rookie star, or is there more to the story? Let’s crunch the numbers and see how Clark stacks up against her fellow first-year phenoms like Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and others in the great Rookie of the Month debate.
Did Caitlin Clark deserve WNBA Rookie of the Month?
Clark isn’t lighting up the scoreboard with 30-point games as she did back in her college days. In fact, she’s only hit the 30-point mark once in her first 11 games at the pro level.
However, what we are seeing is the full breadth of her game, which often gets overshadowed when she’s channeling her inner Steph Curry with those deep three-pointers. Her playmaking skills have smoothly transitioned to the WNBA, and she’s quickly established herself as the leader of the Indiana Fever.
For the month, Clark averaged 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. She tops the Fever’s charts in both points and assists per game, making her the clear centerpiece of their offense.
Critics might be quick to highlight her turnovers. Sure, you’d prefer her 5.4 turnovers per game — the highest in the league — to be lower, but consider the company she’s keeping. Right behind her are stars like Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun, Skylar Diggins-Smith of the Seattle Storm, and Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings.
High turnovers often come with having the ball in your hands the most, a trait of a team’s best player. It’s no surprise Clark leads this category too, given her pivotal role.
Caitlin Clark’s stats vs. WNBA rookies
Clark’s numbers were impressive enough to make her shine not just on her team but among all rookies. She’s part of a stacked WNBA rookie class featuring phenoms like Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, and even her own teammate, Aaliyah Edwards.
Clark isn’t the only rookie making waves. In Los Angeles, Brink has seamlessly adapted to the pro game, standing tall as the league’s third-best shot blocker with 2.6 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Reese is dominating the paint for the Sky, pulling down 8.9 rebounds per game, ranking seventh across the entire WNBA.
So, does Clark truly deserve the Rookie of the Month accolade? Let’s see what the numbers have to say.
| Games | MIN | PPG | APG | RPG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | |
| Caitlin Clark (IND) | 11 | 33.0 | 15.6 | 6.4 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 35.7 | 29.7 | 89.6 |
| Cameron Brink (LAS) | 8 | 24.6 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 47.2 | 36.8 | 81.3 |
| Angel Reese (CHI) | 7 | 28.6 | 10.6 | 1.9 | 8.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 35.3 | 0.0 | 66.7 |
| Aaliyah Edwards (IND) | 8 | 20.1 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 42.0 | 0.0 | 52.6 |
| Rickea Jackson (LAS) | 8 | 24.3 | 10.0 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 49.1 | 46.7 | 82.6 |
| Kamilla Cardoso (CHI) | 1 | 18.0 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 71.4 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
