With the Olympics starting this week, the WNBA will be on a break until August 14.
But while the W is on hiatus, there’s no better time to evaluate the performance of some of the league’s best rookies so far.
Freshmen Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have adapted seamlessly and were named All-Stars, but there have been other players who have also performed impressively.
With the WNBA regular season now a little over halfway over, here’s how six notable rookies have rated in the eyes of Mail Sport.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Clark, the first overall pick after a record-breaking college career at Iowa, has quickly established herself as one of the top female pro players as well.
The 22-year-old ranks 13th in the league with 17.1 points per game (best mark among rookies) and, equally notable, is the W’s assists leader with 8.2 per game.
Caitlin Clark has had an extremely impressive start to life in the WNBA with the Fever.
Clark immediately assumed a leading role in the Fever’s offense and with his help, the team managed to reach an 11-15 record after a 2-9 start.
If we had to nitpick a bit, we’d point to the fact that Clark isn’t putting up his impressive numbers with the greatest efficiency.
He’s turning over 5.6 turnovers per game and shooting just 32.7 percent of his 3-pointers on more than eight attempts per game, though his overall field goal percentage has increased every month of the season.
Like any rookie, Clark has room for improvement, but his starting point is much, much higher than most.
Grade A-
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Like Clark, Reese came to the W with a massive spotlight on her and has done well so far.
The Chicago Sky forward has been an absolute force on the boards, setting a WNBA record for double-doubles with 15 and leading the league in rebounds per game with 11.9.
Notably, she was also the leading rebounder when the WNBA All-Stars faced (and beat) the U.S. Olympic team.
Angel Reese set a WNBA record with 15 consecutive double-doubles for the Chicago Sky
Despite averaging 13.5 points per game, Reese has lacked touch around the rim for someone his size.
He’s converting just 40.2 percent of his field goals despite spending most of his time near the rim.
Still, she has proven to be a difference-maker on defense and it’s been a positive start so far.
Rating: B+
Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
Jackson is the third-leading scorer (11.4 points per game) among rookies and has been a consistent starter for the Sparks after they selected her fourth overall.
He’s also been more efficient than Clark and Reese, as he’s shot an impressive 45.0 percent from the field to start his pro career.
Still, the Sparks have a dismal 6-18 record, and the team has actually been 3.5 points better per 100 possessions without her on the court, according to statistics from Basketball reference.
Jackson is already a capable scorer, but it’s fair to at least question whether she’s a winning player at this point.
Grade: a strong B
Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
Cardoso has been something of a Reese-lite on the same team as the former LSU star, at least statistically.
The Brazilian-born center is averaging 8.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, although she has missed six of 24 games with a shoulder injury.
He’s also averaging 1.1 blocks per night as the anchor of a Chicago (10-14) team that’s currently only in the playoffs for now.
Kamilla Cardoso has flirted with a double-double every night while playing with Reese
And while she’s shot the ball more efficiently than Reese (46.2 percent from the field), she’s also been less involved, taking just over seven shots a night.
He has also scored in single figures in more than half of his games.
Cardoso has shown promise, but the next step is to expand his offensive game.
Grade B
Aaliyah Edwards, Washington Mystics
Edwards hasn’t started every night for the Mystics, but she’s still playing a healthy 22.4 minutes per game and is impressing in that time.
Only Clark, Reese and Jackson are scoring more than her in rookie terms, as Edwards is averaging an extremely efficient 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds on 49 percent shooting.
He also added 1.5 stocks (steals and blocks combined) per night.
At the same time, the Mystics (who are even worse than the Sparks at 6-19) have been 7.1 points better without her on the court over 100 possessions.
Edwards has done some good things, but we just want to see more.
Grade B-
Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks
It’s hard to give Brink a fair grade, given that he played in just 15 games before tearing his ACL.
On the other hand, that figure is only three fewer than Cardoso’s, and is worth mentioning as the second overall choice.
Before her injury, Brink proved to be a strong shot blocker and a limited scorer.
Cameron Brink showed great promise on defense before his season was cut short.
His 2.3 blocks per game were by far the most in the league, though he scored a modest 7.5 points on sub-40 percent shooting.
On the other hand, she demonstrated some competence as a perimeter shooter, hitting 32.3 percent from the three-point line (not bad for a post player) and 84 percent of her free throw attempts.
Brink’s rookie season sample size is (and will remain) small, but his defensive prowess is certainly something to build upon.
Grade B-
