Caitlin Clark was named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year after an incredible first season in the league.
After drawing millions of eyes to the WNBA and women’s basketball during her debut season, the former Iowa star was presented with the award on Sunday morning.
Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and led the league in assists with 8.4 per game. The rookie sensation also led the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Before Clark was crowned, he was in a head-to-head battle with college rival Angel Reese, whose first WNBA season was ended early due to a wrist injury.
While Clark was deservedly given the title over a strong crop of newcomers, her fans were outraged when her first pick was not named league MVP.
Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark was named 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year
Earlier on Sunday, the WNBA announced that Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson has won the award for the third time, making him the second player to do so unanimously.
However, after an X (Twitter) page dedicated to Clark final scoreher fans responded in the comments to express their disappointment.
‘Cc should have won’, a fan claimed. ‘They need to redefine the price. Most valuable player who is tf more valuable than Caitlin.
“Aja is on a strong team,” the fan added. “Caitlin turned a franchise around in one season. Shit, she turned the entire league around.”
Another fan added that Clark not winning the MVP award was “the worst decision since they kept her out of the Olympics.”
A third insisted that Clark ‘should have been at least 3rd… 26-22 Votes for 4th and 5th place are a joke.’
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was unanimously named WNBA MVP on Sunday morning
Fans on social media criticized the vote, arguing that Clark should have won the MVP
Wilson finished with 670 points, earning all of the first-place votes. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier. Reigning MVP Breanna Stewart was dethroned, finishing third with 295 points.
Meanwhile, Clark finished fourth, with six votes for third place, 26 votes for fourth place and 22 votes for fifth place, good for 130 points.
Clark’s scoring prowess has translated well from college to the professional ranks. With a 35-point performance in a blowout win over the Dallas Wings on Sept. 15, Clark broke the WNBA record for rookie scorers.
She also broke the record for most assists in a season, set last season by Alyssa Thomas, with 337 assists this season.
Wilson’s dominance, on the other hand, was clearly visible as she led the league with 1,021 points, 451 rebounds and 98 blocks.
Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and led the league in assists with 8.4 per game
Clark finished fourth in the WNBA MVP voting, while Wilson unanimously claimed the award
Additionally, Wilson broke the record for points per game in her MVP season, scoring 26.9, breaking Diana Taurasi’s record of 25.3, which had stood since 2006.
The Aces finished the regular season in fourth place in the WNBA standings, which put them in the opening round against Seattle. Also in their bracket is a matchup between top-seeded New York and eighth-seeded Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Lynx and Mercury will face off in the first round before taking on the winner, the Sun and Clark’s Fever, in the semi-finals.