The WNBA is back after a month-long Olympic break. With five weeks to go before the end of the regular season, all eyes are on the final stretch of the playoffs.
But the most eagerly awaited draft class in league history also continues to attract attention. Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in April, hopes to lead the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. And Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso hope to lead their Chicago Sky to the playoffs as well.
Clark and Reese have already secured their place in the record books this season. Clark set the WNBA single-game record with 19 assists and is the first rookie in league history to record a triple-double. Reese set a WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles (15).
We will continue to follow the performances of the best rookies on every matchday throughout the season.
Last updated: August 16
Guard | 6 foot | Game log | Stats | Watch: First half recap
Last time: The Fever appeared to be in high spirits on Friday, starting their first game since the Olympic break with a 33-16 lead in the first quarter. The Phoenix Mercury erased the deficit and even took a one-point lead in the third quarter. But Indiana held its composure and won 98-89 in front of another sold-out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Clark had 29 points, one shy of her season high, 10 assists and five rebounds, as she and teammate Kelsey Mitchell (28 points) outscored Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper and Natasha Cloud, who combined for 51 points.
Clark became the first WNBA rookie to record at least 25 points/10 assists/5 rebounds in multiple games. It was her second such game this season, moving Indiana to 12-15 and remaining in seventh place in the standings.
What we learned: When you throw names like Courtney Vandersloot and Ticha Penicheiro into your mouth when talking about a young WNBA point guard, you know you’re talking about legend level. In her last game before the break on July 17, Clark broke Vandersloot’s single-game assist record with 19. After adding 10 assists on Friday, she has the second-highest two-game total in league history, trailing only Vandersloot’s 30 assists in 2020 when she was with the Chicago Sky.
Clark is just three assists away from breaking Penicheiro’s rookie assist record of 225, which she set with the Sacramento Monarchs in 1998. Penicheiro, who was drafted No. 2 out of Old Dominion in 1998, finished her WNBA career with 2,600 assists in 2012. That’s the third-most assists ever behind Sue Bird’s 3,234 and Vandersloot’s 2,778. Vandersloot, who was drafted No. 3 out of Gonzaga in 2011, is now with the New York Liberty.
Clark said that during the Olympic break she worked primarily on improving her strength.
“I’m ‘discretely’ strong,” Clark said, smiling. “I know I’ll never be the strongest person. I’m trying to put on some weight, and I’ve been training hard in the weight room. There are certain limits to what I can do this season. But over the course of the last three weeks or so, we’ve all been training hard in the weight room.”
“I was in a lot of pain and some days it was hard to shoot. But I think it will help me in the home stretch.” — Michael Voepel
Next: against Seattle Storm on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Striker | 1.90 m | Match report | Statistics
Last time: Reese recorded her 18th double-double of the season, leading the league. She finished with 11 points (4 of 14 field shots, 3 of 8 free throws) and 15 rebounds (8 offensive). However, the Sky lost 85-65 to the Phoenix Mercury, their heaviest loss of the season. With 15 games left in the regular season, Reese appears to be on the verge of breaking the rookie record for double-doubles (Tina Charles had 22 in 2010).
What we learned: It was a forgettable start to the second half for Sky, who trailed 30-12 at the end of the first period – their worst point differential in a quarter since June 2022 – and were unable to overcome the deficit.
With Chennedy Carter out due to illness and Marina Mabrey traded to Connecticut, Chicago’s offense stagnated for most of the game, managing just 37% shooting from the field and 21.1% from the three-point line. With Mabrey gone, the Sky coaching staff will have to quickly find ways to help Reese (and Kamilla Cardoso) push deep if Chicago wants to preserve its chances of a playoff berth. — Alexa Philippou
Next: at the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday (5:00 p.m. ET)
Center | 2.01 m | Match report | Statistics
Last time: Cardoso scored 10 points (5 of 8 shots), making her the only Chicago player to score in double figures alongside Reese and Dana Evans (14 points). She also grabbed five rebounds.
What we learned: While the Chicago Bigs had quiet nights on offense, that was not the case for Phoenix’s Brittney Griner. The three-time Olympian, fresh off a gold medal run in Paris, scored 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting to go with 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks. That’s the kind of performance coach Teresa Weatherspoon hopes her young players, Cardoso and Reese, can learn from. — Philippou
Next: at the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday (5:00 p.m. ET)
Striker | 1.88 m | Match report | Statistics
Last time: Jackson scored 13 points (6 of 14 shooting, 1 of 3 threes) in the Sparks’ 103-68 loss to the No. 1-ranked New York Liberty. It was the first game this season in which Jackson failed to grab a rebound, and it was also one of their most turnover-heavy games (4). Overall, it was a rough night for Los Angeles, which suffered its worst loss since July 2022.
What we learned: It was a tough draw for the Sparks in their first game back against the league’s best team, which features a ton of Olympians who weren’t rusty after a month-long break. But they don’t have much time to dwell on Thursday’s loss, as a hungry Chicago team comes to town on Saturday looking to bounce back from a crushing loss to Phoenix. — Philippou
Next: vs. Chicago Sky on Saturday (5:00 p.m. ET)
“I am a perfectionist and want to be great as quickly as possible.” 🔥
Rickea Jackson spoke with @Andraya_Carter And @LaChinaRobinson about the lessons learned from her rookie season and the bond with her teammate Cameron Brink 🌟 pic.twitter.com/JDDnd963jc
— espnW (@espnW) 16 August 2024
