It has been over two weeks since I last published the last WNBA Rookies Watch blog post. It was about the rookies who played in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. This week’s edition of the WNBA Rookies Watch will discuss in detail the WNBA rookies who are trying their best to help their teams during the last stretch of the WNBA regular season and fight for a playoff spot in the upcoming WNBA playoffs or continuing to shine despite their teams being lottery bound and or finally receiving longer playing time.
It is now time to recap the eleventh week of WNBA Rookies Watch. You can read the previous week here.
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WNBA Rookies Watch – The final stretch of the WNBA regular season
This week’s edition of the WNBA Rookies Watch discusses in detail about the WNBA rookies who have helped their team secure a WNBA playoff spot, or rookies who continue to play well despite their teams being lottery bound and rookies that finally have received playing time and are doing their best to take advantage of the oppurtunity presented to them.
*These statistics are from games played from Aug. 21st to Sept. 10th, 2024*
- Caitlin Clark – Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark has really come into this WNBA season on a strong note and has helped the Indiana Fever secure a WNBA playoff spot and end their playoff drought of eight years as the last time they qualified for a playoff spot was the 2016 season. During this final stretch of the WNBA regular season, she’s averaging 43.1 minutes per game which is simply incredible and eye-opening. She must be exhausted as she continues to help the Fever stay in playoff contention. She’s averaging 27.8 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 7 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game and 7 turnovers per game. It must not be easy dealing with all of the expectations placed on the #1 overall draft pick, but she’s doing her best and helping her team with their playoff potential. We shall now see what she and the Indiana Fever have in store as the final days of the WNBA regular season comes to an end.
2. Angel Reese – Chicago Sky
Angel Reese also came into the WNBA season on a strong note. Unfortunately, she’s been ruled out of the rest of the WNBA season with a season-ending wrist injury and will have surgery. However, during the final stretch of the WNBA regular season, she averaged 34.26 minutes per game. WNBA veterans, stars and superstars usually average those type of minutes as she was helping the Chicago Sky fight for a playoff spot. She had 6 double-doubles during this final stretch of the WNBA regular season. She was averaging 13.4 points per game, 16.2 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, 3.7 turnovers per game and 1 steal per game. She made her impact well known and we shall see what the Chicago Sky can do without her presence as they fight for the final playoff spot.
3. Kamilla Cardoso – Chicago Sky
Kamilla Cardoso has improved since the beginning of her rookie season and now during this final stretch of the regular season, she’s averaging 32.39 minutes per game. That is impressive and like Reese and Clark, those minutes are usually played by WNBA veterans, stars or superstars and to receive those type of minutes means Cardoso is leaving an impact. She’s averaging 12.5 points per game, 8.75 rebounds per game, 3.1 turnovers per game, 1.8 assists per game and 2.1 blocks per game. She also had 2 double-doubles during this final stretch of the WNBA regular season. As the Chicago Sky are fighting for the final playoff spot and are without Angel Reese due to a wrist injury, we shall see what Kamilla Cardoso can provide for the team in the final days of the WNBA regular season.
4. Rickea Jackson – Los Angeles Sparks
Rickea Jackson received quality playing time at the beginning of her rookie season and flourished in those minutes as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks. As the Sparks are now eliminated from playoff contention and are lottery bound, that doesn’t mean that Jackson hasn’t stopped shining. During this final stretch of the WNBA regular season, she has averaged 34.1 minutes per game. She has averaged 16.8 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.8 turnovers per game and 1 steal per game. She’s proven her worth as a starter and now we shall see how she finishes her rookie season as the final days of the regular season approaches.
5. Leonie Fiebich – New York Liberty
Leonie Fiebich was drafted in the second round of the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks but never played in the WNBA until this season and as a member of the New York Liberty, she has thrived. The New York Liberty are the top team in the WNBA and she has helped the team tremendously. In the final stretch of the WNBA regular season, she has averaged 26 minutes per game. She has averaged 10 points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game, 2 assists per game, 1.5 turnovers per game and 1.3 steals per game. She has been a quality reserve player and with the final days of the WNBA regular season coming to a close, she could receive even more playing time as the Liberty starters rest up for the upcoming WNBA playoffs.
6. Aaliyah Edwards – Washington Mystics
Aaliyah Edwards received quality playing time as a member of the Washington Mystics and just like many of the other rookies, did the best out of the oppurtunity given. Currently, the Washington Mystics are still in playoff contention for the final playoff spot, so during this final stretch of the regular season, she has averaged 21.89 minutes per game. She has averaged 5.2 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game and 1.2 turnovers per game. It is highly likely that the Mystics will not be able to take the final playoff spot over the Sky or Dream, so Edwards could receive even more playing time as the final days of the WNBA season comes to a close.
7. Celeste Taylor – Phoenix Mercury
Celeste Taylor has been on a journey through her rookie season in the WNBA. She’s played for three teams (Indiana Fever, Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury) and didn’t receive playing time or it was limited. During the final stretch of the WNBA regular season, as a member of the Phoenix Mercury, she’s averaging 13.8 minutes per game. She’s averaging 3.8 points per game, 1.7 rebounds per game, 2 assists per game, 1 steal per game and 1.7 turnovers per game. She’s showing signs of improvement as she helps the Phoenix Mercury continue their run to the upcoming WNBA playoffs as they are in playoff contention.
That wraps up this week’s edition of WNBA Rookies Watch. As you can see, many rookies got the oppurtunity to play and received quality minutes regardless if they were on a playoff team or a lottery team. However, some of the rookies still didn’t receive playing time or it was very limited, so unfortunately, they didn’t get to showcase their talents. Next week, I will wrap up this year’s WNBA Rookies Watch with the final post as I will discuss how this year’s draft class performed for the entire season as well as which rookies should make the All-Rookie Team this season. It will be released on Friday, September 20th.
