The second week of the WNBA regular season has been very intense as teams continue to play a packed schedule due to the Olympics and it has been tough for the rookies. It is now time to recap the second week of WNBA Rookies Watch. These WNBA Rookies Watch posts will be updated weekly every Wednesday of the season. You can read the first week of WNBA Rookies Watch here.
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WNBA Rookies Watch – Rookies Learning About the League
The top WNBA draft picks are getting extended time and minutes while the other WNBA rookies are not. This is not to dismiss their talent, there’s just high competition and it is tough to compete against WNBA veterans who have experience and also have played overseas.
*Note – These are games played from May 22nd to May 28th, 2024*
1. Angel Reese – Forward, Chicago Sky
In the second week of this season’s WNBA Rookies Watch, there is a new rookie who takes the #1 spot and it is not Caitlin Clark. It is Angel Reese. As a starter, she played 31.3 minutes per game and averaged 12.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game across three games. She had her first career double-double in a close loss versus the Seattle Storm. She shot the ball more effectively after struggling in the first week. She shot 39.3%. In a close loss versus the Connecticut Sun, she thanked Alyssa Thomas after Thomas grabbed her by the neck and was ejected from the game.
2. Caitlin Clark – Guard, Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark struggled this week as the season schedule saw the Fever play 4 times in 7 days and two of those game were a road back to back. In a close loss on the road in Seattle, she finished the game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks. The Fever did win their first game of the season over the LA Sparks on the road and Clark finished with a near triple-double as she scored 11 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. After the victory over the LA Sparks, the Fever played the Las Vegas Aces the next night and Clark struggled as she finished the game with a season low 8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. She then rebounded when they played the LA Sparks again, but this time at home and finished the game with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. She went 13-15 from the free throw line. Turnovers continue to be a problem as she had 6 turnovers in the road loss versus the Aces and 7 in the home loss versus the Sparks.
3. Cameron Brink – Forward, LA Sparks
Cameron Brink continues to grow and get better. In the three games she played in this week, she averaged 13 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game. In the home loss versus the Fever, she was excellent as she finished the game with a near double-double. In the next game, which was a home one-point loss versus the Dallas Wings, she finished the game with a career-high 21 points, shot 58.3% from the field and had 3 blocks. She did struggle in her most recent game, which was the Fever, but this time it was on the road and the Sparks won. She finished with 3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. She shot just 20% (1/5) from the field.
4. Julie Vanloo – Guard, Washington Mystics
Julie Vanloo is the oldest WNBA rookie this season, but she deserves some attention. The Washington Mystics may be winless, but that isn’t Vanloo’s fault. In the close road loss versus the Phoenix Mercury, she finished the game with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 27 minutes. In the blowout road loss versus the Seattle Storm, she scored 12 points and had 3 assists. She has remained consistent and has been one of the Mystics top four players so far.
5. Rickea Jackson – Forward, LA Sparks
Rickea Jackson continues to be an underrated player for the LA Sparks. In the second week of WNBA action, she averaged 10.6 points per game. She scored a career-high 16 points in the home loss versus the Indiana Fever in 24 minutes off the bench. She struggled in the next game, a home one-point loss versus the Dallas Wings, finishing the game with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. She got her first career start in a road win over the Indiana Fever and helped her team as she scored 12 points and had 2 steals.
Honourable mention
Sevgi Uzun – Guard, Dallas Wings
Sevgi Uzun is an undrafted rookie and has been impressive in the second week of WNBA action. In a road blowout win over the Phoenix Mercury, she finished the game with 2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. On the second day of the road back to back in a one-point win over the LA Sparks, she had her best game of the season as she finished the game with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal in 35 minutes. Her best game of the season so far.
Kate Martin – Guard, Las Vegas Aces
Kate Martin continues to do her best when given the chance to play. The Las Vegas Aces only played one game last week, which was a home win over the Indiana Fever and Martin contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 22 minutes off the bench. She shot 60% from the field (3/5) and 50% from three (2/4).
