The first half of the 2024 WNBA season is officially in the books, and two rookies were in the spotlight in Saturday's All-Star Game, the last event before the league takes a monthlong break during the Olympics.
Caitlin Clark, who was in Team WNBA's starting lineup Saturday, had a rookie All-Star record 10 assists, and Angel Reese had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Before the game, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert discussed how the rookies have impacted this season.
"A number of new fans we're able to bring into this league is exponential from my expectations of what we were going to do and provide them. ... I think fans are finally knowing where to find us," she said in her annual All-Star Game news conference before tipoff. "And I think this rookie class has brought a lot of attention and is lifting all of our games and all of our players."
This season, Clark set the WNBA single-game record with 19 assists, and she is the first rookie in league history to tally a triple-double.
Reese also has had a historic start to her rookie season. She set a WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles (15).
We've tracked the top rookie performances every game day throughout the season and will continue to do so when the league resumes Aug. 15.
Last updated: July 20
Caitlin Clark tosses it to Jonquel Jones for a slick basket for Team WNBA.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Guard | 6-foot | Game log | Stats | Watch: First-half recap
Last time out: Clark had a quiet scoring night (4 points on 2-for-9 shooting, 0-for-7 on 3-pointers) but shined in historic fashion as a facilitator, similar to some of the regular-season games we've seen from her of late. Clark's 10 assists was the most by a rookie in the All-Star Game. The tally also was one shy of tying Sue Bird's All-Star Game record, but the Fever standout said she was OK with falling short of the mark. "That's Sue's record," Clark said. "I can't take that from her. That's my homie."
What we learned: Clark is often one who puts together a 30-piece. But Saturday, the No. 1 draft pick clearly enjoyed watching Arike Ogunbowale -- whom she called the best one-on-one player in the league -- go off for an All-Star Game-record 34 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the arc. "It's so fun," Clark said. "I haven't always been on that side of it where you have a teammate that goes kind of crazy like that."
Clark said at one point she was supposed to be subbed in for Ogunbowale, but Clark wanted to stay on the bench to let the Dallas Wings guard do her thing.
Fever rookie Caitlin Clark expresses her emotions after playing in her first WNBA All-Star Game, which included some friendly banter with Sue Bird.
Now Clark is thrilled to make it to the Olympic break. She burst into the postgame news conference room Saturday night exclaiming, "I'm on vacation!" The rookie declined to share where she's traveling to but said she's excited to take a little bit of time away from basketball before preparing for the second half of the regular season. -- Alexa Philippou
Up next: vs. Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 16 (7:30 p.m. ET, ION)
Angel Reese battles for multiple offensive rebounds to drop in a tough layup for Team WNBA.
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Forward | 6-foot-3 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: Another game, another double-double for Reese. In fact, she became the first rookie to record one in an All-Star Game, finishing with 12 points and 11 boards -- five of which were on the offensive end, which tied the rookie record for most in an All-Star Game.
What we learned: Reese was one of five Team WNBA players to hit double figures in scoring, even though she didn't take the floor until late in the first quarter. Her first two baskets came off offensive rebounds, but her next two were particularly memorable: Jonquel Jones found her down the floor on a nice play in transition, and then, early in the third quarter, Caitlin Clark fed her down low for a layup in a much-anticipated connection between the two. After the play, Reese pointed to Clark and the two high-fived as they ran back on defense, a nice moment the two stars could share while also producing standout games individually.
She isn't participating in the Olympics, but Reese told reporters Friday that she is heading to Paris during the WNBA break. She'll take some time for herself but also intends to train while she's abroad in preparation for the Sky's playoff push. -- Philippou
Up next: vs. Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 15 (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
"I just wanted to leave my mark. One day I wanna be able to be a [USA Basketball] member."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 21, 2024
-Angel Reese after dropping a double-double in the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Uoi2FFBxNg
Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
Center | 6-foot-7 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: In 30 minutes against the Aces, Kamilla Cardoso was relatively quiet offensively. The rookie center had 6 points and 4 rebounds. The Sky got out to a 20-point lead in the game before the Aces came back to make it interesting in the fourth quarter. Cardoso was matched up at center against the front-runner for the WNBA MVP award, A'ja Wilson, who finished the night with 28 points in the loss.
What we learned: It was Las Vegas' fourth loss as a double-digit favorite this season. The Aces closed at -13.5 at ESPN BET.
Up next: vs. Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 15 (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
Forward | 6-foot-2 | Game log | Stats
Last time out: The Storm came away with the 89-83 win in this high-scoring matinee in Los Angeles. Jewell Loyd had her 25th career 30-point game, fifth most in WNBA history, breaking a tie with Maya Moore, who had 24 career 30-point games. Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson had 16 points but struggled from the field. The forward hit just 6 of 17 shots and was 1-of-5 from 3.
What we learned: The Storm, who improved to 17-8, and the Sparks appear headed in opposite directions. Los Angeles, which dropped to 6-18 on the season, had no answer for Loyd. Loyd is fifth in the league in scoring at 19.7 points per game. That all said, Jackson -- the forward out of Tennessee -- filled out the stat line with 6 rebounds and 4 assists to go along with her points.
Up next: vs. New York Liberty on Aug. 19 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)