How the 2024 Rookie Class is Stacking Up

WNBA rookie round-up, 5/14– 8/19

Aug 20, 2024

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Considering Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have already broken notable records with nearly a month still left in the regular season and several other rookies earning headlines for their impactful debut seasons, there’s little doubt the 2024 rookie class will leave an indelible mark on the WNBA. But there have been other exceptional rookie classes over the years, prompting us to take a look at how this group of players compares to some of the other greats. Unfortunately, the inaugural year of the WNBA and the next several years that followed aren’t ideal for direct comparisons since so many players were technically deemed “rookies” despite already having professional basketball experience overseas. But when looking across the last 20 years, it’s clear the 2024 rookie class ranks at or near the top in several areas.

Major Minutes

Since 2005, there have been 89 rookies who’ve started in at least 10 games and averaged at least 20 minutes per game. Only four rookie classes have produced more than five players on that list, with the 2024 class claiming the top spot with nine. The other standout classes include 2008 (six rookies), 2018 (six rookies), and 2014 (eight rookies). Among the 620 rookies who played during those years, Caitlin Clark is the current leader, averaging 35.2 minutes per game. She’s followed by Breanna Stewart (2016, 34.7 minutes), Odyssey Sims (2014, 34.6 minutes), and Candace Parker (2008, 33.6 minutes), but Angel Reese isn’t too far behind, averaging 31.9 minutes per game and ranking 10th overall. The 2024 class is also the only group of rookies since 2005 to have seven players who have logged 35 minutes or more in at least one non-overtime game. Caitlin Clark has done it 17 times, Angel Reese has done it eight, Jacy Sheldon and Rickea Jackson have done it twice, and Aaliyah Edwards, Kamilla Cardoso, and Sevgi Uzun have each done it once.

Relentless on the Glass

Only 40 rookies have averaged five or more rebounds a game over the past 20 years, and the 2024 season is one of just two seasons with five or more rookies achieving this feat. The only other season was 2022, which was led by NaLyssa Smith, who averaged 7.9 rebounds per game and ranks 10th among the 620 rookies playing in the last two decades, followed by Shakira Austin (6.4 rpg) and Queen Egbo (6.1 rpg, 23rd). This season, Reese (12.3 rpg), Cardoso (7.5 rpg), Aaliyah Edwards (5.8 rpg) and Clark (5.8 rpg) have been leading the way. Reese’s rebounding has been particularly impressive. Not only does she rank first among all rookies who played during the last 20 years, but she is currently on track to break Sylvia Fowles’ single-season record for rebounds per game.

Dishing out Dimes

Clark has been drawing the majority of attention among the 2024 rookies for her playmaking abilities, and rightfully so. Her 8.3 assists per game are on pace to break the rookie record and would be the most in league history by someone not named Courtney Vandersloot. In July, Clark broke the league’s single-game assist record with 19 assists, surpassing Vandersloot’s previously held record by one. This past weekend, she shattered Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie single-season assist record, reaching a total of 232 assists, and counting. With 12 games remaining in the regular season, Clark is on track to set a new single-season assist record, currently held by Alyssa Thomas (2023, 317 assists). But there are also eight other rookies averaging at least 1.5 assists per game this season, including Julie Vanloo (4.9 apg) and Uzun (3.5 apg) — a level of playmaking accomplished only three other times in the last 20 years (2013, 2019, and 2020).

Putting up Points

Over the past 20 years, 93 players have averaged 7.5 or more points per game during their rookie year, but there have been only four seasons during which seven or more rookies did it. Sims led the 2014 rookie class (16.7 ppg), which had a total of eight rookies averaging 7.5 points per game or more. The rookie classes of 2008, 2018, and 2024 each had seven players who averaged 7.5 points or more. Parker led the 2008 class with 18.5 points per game. A’ja Wilson, who ranks second overall among the 620 rookies playing in the last 20 years, led the 2018 class with 20.7 points per game. Caitlin Clark is currently leading the 2024 class with 17.8 points per game (ranking ninth overall among rookies in the past 20 years), followed by Angel Reese (13.6 ppg) and Rickea Jackson (11.7 ppg).

Racking up Double-Doubles

With Reese breaking the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles (15) and Clark accumulating the most point-assist double-doubles in rookie history (8), it should be no surprise that the 2024 class has already put up the most rookie double-doubles in the past 20 years (37). The previous record of 35 was held by the rookie class of 2008, which included nine rookies who put up at least one double-double that season. Parker led that group with 17, followed by Fowles with six. This season, six rookies have already notched at least one double-double. Reese currently leads the class with 20 double-doubles and is on pace to break Tina Charles’ rookie record of 22. Clark has the second most (10), followed by Cardoso with four.

Ranking High in Several Major Stat Categories

When comparing statistics for the top 10 players across each rookie class (players selected according to most minutes averaged), the 2024 class ranks first in two categories (rebounds and assists) and ranks second in another (blocks). The 2008 class is the only other rookie class to rank first in two categories (blocks and steals) and second in another (rebounds).

The 2024 rookie class has repeatedly shown they not only have elite talent and star power, but they’ve also proven that they are one of the deepest rookie classes the WNBA has seen in the past 20 years. And with plenty of the season still left to play, there is still ample time for more history to be made.

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