The WNBA is almost done with a quarter of its season. Before the stars proceed to show their exceptional skills, the rookies’ performance hasn’t gone as per expectations. The repercussions of this have mostly been borne by Caitlin Clark. The former NCAA Queen hasn’t been able to match her college basketball skills and now in the latest rookie rankings she has been displaced not only by Angel Reese but by another WNBA rising talent.

Clark ended the NCAA season on a high note after surpassing the legendary Pete Maravich as the all-time NCAA scorer in both men’s and women’s basketball. Therefore, she was touted as one of the most promising players coming into the WNBA. But now she has been dismissed from her throne.

Caitlin Clark was displaced by Angel Reese and another WNBA rookie

In the New York Times’s recent rookie list, Clark is positioned at third place. She has been surpassed by the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and the Washington Mystics Aaliyah Edwards. While Clark was the number one pick in the WNBA 2024 draft by the Indiana Fever, Reese was the overall number 7 pick by the Chicago Sky. Meanwhile, Edwards went ahead as the number six pick by the Washington Mystics.

The battle between Reese and Clark dates back to their NCAA days hence it was not a surprise when Reese trumped Clark. But Edwards was a new addition to the list. Reese currently averages a decent 12.4 points per game with 9.6 rebounds per match. At the same time, Edwards has an average of 8.6 points per contest with 6.2 rebounds per game. She has been using her 6 feet 3 inches height to her advantage, especially in her rebounds. 

Meanwhile, Clark trumps both in terms of points with 15.6 per outing but falls flat in rebounds with 4.9 rebounds per game. While Reese and Edwards have shown a versatile game in both offense and defense, Clark is yet to make that sort of an impact. Therefore in the latest rankings, Reese occupies the top spot followed by Edwards, and Clark is stationed at the third spot. And this is not the only blow that Clark has dealt with in recent times.

Caitlin Clark deals with another blow

Clark had to deal with a crushing blow she wasn’t shortlisted for the 12-woman squad to the Paris Olympics. The selection committee decided in favor of the veterans and Clark was snubbed. She was included as an alternative lest any of the players cannot make it to the quadrennial event due to some or the other situation. Her rivals Cameron Brink and Hailey Van Lith found themselves a place in the 3*3 woman basketball squad and Clark couldn’t get even into that.

Though Clark has expressed that she wasn’t disappointed, her head coach Christie Sides divulged Clark had told her “They’ve woken a monster” after her Olympic exclusion. The results of the rejection are yet to be seen but hopefully, for her fans she will bounce back.

Perhaps, Clark is taking her time to adjust to the WNBA before she returns in her form and continues her on-song performances from the NCAA. Till then Clark should avoid looking at any rankings unless she does so for motivation and take her time to understand the game at the pro level and then make a solid comeback. 

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.