“But these rookies, they don’t want to be labeled rookies. They’re ballers, they’re coming after you,” Nancy Lieberman remarked mid-season of the 2024 class. And show a glimpse, they did, writing history with their many records. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in particular, even more so.

The inaugural season has come to an end, the Rookie of the Year has been declared, and there remains a statistically incredible season to look back at.

A battle of stats: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese

Through the regular season, the Indiana Fever came across the Chicago Sky 4 times, with these to having it out on the court. Caitlin Clark had a one-up there, with the Indiana Fever taking home the series, 3-1. In terms of games played throughout the season, Reese could manage 34 due to her season-ending wrist injury and the no.22 bagged all 40.

For individual averages then, Clark leads in points and assists with 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.3 steals. Reese, of course, with her notable records, takes the rebound lead, averaging, 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals.

On a deeper look, Clark took the hat again with a field goal percentage of .417 for an efficiency rate of .522. Further, as the three-point record holder, her 3 PM percentage stands at .344. As for Reese, she put out a field goal percentage of .391 with an efficiency rate of .395. The Chi-Town Barbie’s most talked about area to improve on, the 3-point percentage, was recorded to be .188.

Clark’s regular season totals stand at 769 points, 227 rebounds, 337 assists, 53 steals, and 27 blocked shots. Meanwhile, Reese amassed 462 points, 446 rebounds, 63 assists, 44 steals, and 16 blocked shots.

As a result, it’s Clark who has had the upper hand over Reese in terms of stats, except for the rebounding which Reese has mastered this aspect and led the league in the regular season with 13.1 rebounds per game. She also held the most rebounds in a single season record when she notched her 418th in a game against Minnesota Lynx. But it lasted a short while until A’ja Wilson surpassed her once she was sidelined due to injury. Had she stayed, maybe we’d see another crown to go with her longest double-double streak in the WNBA at 15. That’s three more than legend Candace Parker’s.

While she is one of the pillars of growth the WNBA attained this season, and for the future of the league ahead, Caitlin Clark trod a step more to clinch the first year’s ultimate honor.

Clark going the extra mile

Since the season took off, the Indiana Fever rookie had set off to break too many records to keep track of. To name the most notable ones, she began with the single-game assists record at 19. She would then go on break the 3-point record by a rookie with her 86th in her 31st game. Rhyne Howard held it previously with 85. Building on it, she tallied 122 in the last regular season game to break Diana Taurasi’s single-season 121. This placed her second in the category, right below Sabrina Ionescu’s 128.

Clark also holds the record for most single-season assists at 337. Right before, she became the first rookie to record a triple-double and she did that twice. In the process, the Iowa star put up 769 points, which not only helped her break the rookie record, but also the franchise’s. Her teammate and Indiana Fever veteran, Kelsey Mitchell recorded 767.

Last week, Caitlin Clark was named First Team All-WNBA and a unanimous choice of the Associated Press 15-person panel to be named as the WNBA Rookie of the Year. This feat has brought the Fever double glory as it is the straight second year for a Fever rookie to be honored with this award after the 2023 No.1 overall pick Aliyah Boston.

Astonishingly, Clark finished fourth on this year’s MVP voting behind the league’s veterans A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. A run to remember indeed.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger