Caitlin Clark is a 2024 WNBA rookie!
The 22-year-old Indiana Fever star was named the winner of the coveted award on Thursday, Oct. 3 in a statement from the WNBA.
And to celebrate the big news, the Fever shared a video of the moment Clark — who was selected first overall in April’s draft — found out she had won the honor.
During the team’s practice before their playoff game in Connecticut — before the Sun knocked the Fever out of the WNBA postseason — league commissioner Cathy Engelbert broke the news to Clark and her teammates over the phone, telling the rookie, “It seems like just yesterday I called your name on stage as the number one pick in this year’s draft.”
The commissioner also recalled Clark holding her Indiana Fever jersey “for the first time” at the draft in April and said Clark had a “record breaking season” in her rookie year.
Engelbert then praised the Fever for their “outstanding performances” throughout the season to reach this year’s playoffs.
Caitlin Clark poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
Sarah Stier/Getty
“I know the best is yet to come,” Engelbert added, to which Clark replied “Facts.”
Engelbert then announced, “Congratulations Caitlin, you are the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year!”
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Clark looked proud and emotional when she heard Engelbert tell her the good news. Her Fever teammates also reacted excitedly to the announcement, jumping up and down with her and cheering on their rookie teammate’s success.
Clark’s teammates also recorded video messages to congratulate her on the honor. Fever brought them together in a sweet video on Xu after the news broke.
With Clark’s selection, the Indiana Fever now have back-to-back Rookie of the Year wins after Aliyah Boston earned the honor last year.
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Clark received praise from around the basketball world after being named Rookie of the Year, including a video message from NBA star Chris Paul and shout-outs from Indiana Pacers players Obi Toppin, Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner.
Clark’s boyfriend Connor McCaffery, who recently took over as an assistant coach on the Butler University men’s basketball team after working for the Pacers, also celebrated her honor by retweeting the news on his Instagram Story.
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Clark started all 40 games for Indiana in her rookie season, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists (WNBA-leading, by league), 5.7 rebounds and 1.33 steals. She led the rookie class in assists, points, steals and minutes played this season. She also had the second-highest free throw shooting percentage in the league at 90.6%.
The Fever rookie set the league record for most assists in a single game with 337 and was selected to the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game.
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Source: HIS Education