12 months 1 was record-setting for the WNBA’s 2024 rookie class. What may its second season have in retailer?
Partly because of the prolonged common season (the league went to a 40-game schedule in 2023), rookie All-Stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese mixed to set rookie data for factors (Clark), rebounds (Reese) and assists (Clark). Each Clark’s help common and Reese’s rebound common additionally have been the best ever for first-year WNBA gamers — and in Reese’s case, a WNBA document no matter expertise.
Past Clark and Reese, the 2024 draft produced 4 different gamers who averaged no less than seven factors per recreation final season: the Los Angeles Sparks duo of Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, Reese’s Chicago Sky teammate Kamilla Cardoso, and Aaliyah Edwards of the Washington Mystics.
With a yr of WNBA expertise and a full offseason behind them, plus extra veteran assist for a number of of final yr’s high rookies, let us take a look at how we are able to anticipate these gamers to develop and enhance on the weaker spots of their recreation through the 2025 marketing campaign, which begins Friday.
Extra weapons for Clark
Within the wake of Clark being named Rookie of the 12 months, incomes All-WNBA first-team honors and main the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the primary time since 2016, her staff turned a well-liked vacation spot in free company. Indiana loaded up with two of the highest gamers to alter groups in six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner and 2019 Defensive Participant of the 12 months Natasha Howard.
With these additions, Clark enters the season as the favourite for MVP at ESPN BET, forward of three-time MVP A’ja Wilson and 2024 MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier. If Clark have been to win MVP, she can be the least skilled winner since Candace Parker in her rookie season in 2008.
It took Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who’ve mixed to win 5 of the previous seven MVPs, till 12 months 3 within the league to succeed in that stage. And neither needed to take down a winner in her prime as established as Wilson is. The yr earlier than Stewart received for the primary time in 2018, Sylvia Fowles received her solely MVP at age 31. Elena Delle Donne, the MVP the yr earlier than Wilson received for the primary time in 2020, was unable to take part throughout that “wubble” season — with its neutral-site setting — resulting from medical issues.
Realistically, I would think about each Wilson and Collier extra prone to win MVP, however Clark’s standing as favourite is indicative of the expectations for her second WNBA season. To a level, Clark’s monster efficiency over the past 20 video games of her rookie yr (22.3 factors, 10.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds per recreation) is likely to be tough to take care of — for good causes.
As a result of the Fever added two scoring threats in Bonner (15.0 PPG final season) and Howard (17.6 PPG) to their beginning 5, plus sixth girl Sophie Cunningham (8.4 PPG in 2024 however double figures the earlier two seasons), there will probably be fewer performs to go round. Based mostly on my projected rotation for Indiana, gamers’ utilization charges might want to drop a median of three% from what we might in any other case anticipate.
Though that change won’t be distributed equally, the Fever certainly wish to take among the load off Clark, who ranked second within the WNBA in whole minutes as a rookie (1,416), behind solely Arike Ogunbowale. On the flip facet, that might produce higher effectivity for Clark. She shot 39% on catch-and-shoot 3s final season, per GeniusIQ monitoring, as in comparison with 32.5% on pull-up makes an attempt. Clark took greater than twice as many pull-up 3s (231, simply probably the most within the league) as catch-and-shoot ones (114). Night out that ratio might assist Clark enhance in an space that already was a energy.
Clark’s largest leap might finally be within the playoffs. Because the No. 6 seed, Indiana was swept by the third-seeded Connecticut Solar with out getting a house recreation final season. With Bonner and Howard, the Fever at the moment are favorites to earn home-court benefit within the opening spherical and win a playoff collection for the primary time since reaching the 2015 WNBA Finals. Clark has all the time shined on the most important levels and now has a staff able to getting her there as a professional.
Raised expectations for Reese
Over the previous yr, Reese has thrived off low expectations for her individually and her groups. After slipping to the No. 7 decide of the WNBA draft, Reese joined a Sky staff that was anticipated to be among the many league’s worst after buying and selling All-Star Kahleah Copper. Propelled by Reese’s All-Star debut, Chicago as a substitute stayed within the hunt for a playoff spot till the ultimate week of the season.
That paled compared to the shock Reese’s Rose BC staff pulled off in Unequalled this spring. Ranked final in my preseason projections — which have been primarily based on WNBA play and never the 3-on-3 format utilized by Unequalled — Rose went 8-6 to complete second within the standings and received the inaugural Unequalled championship. Though Reese was unable to compete within the playoffs resulting from a hand harm, she received Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
Now, Reese can hope to get the Sky again to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Having added veteran guards Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot this offseason, Chicago has been given 50-50 odds of ending within the high eight at ESPN BET. With Atkins and Vandersloot, plus fellow newcomers Rebecca Allen and Kia Nurse, the Sky will put extra fashionable ground spacing round Reese and Cardoso within the frontcourt after trying simply 14.9 3-pointers per recreation final season, greater than three fewer than some other WNBA staff.
Specifically, Vandersloot’s playmaking means ought to profit Reese by setting her up for easier finishes. Reese made 44% of her potential help alternatives final season, per GeniusIQ. On self-created photographs with out an help alternative, Reese shot simply 35%, producing the bottom efficient area objective share for any participant with no less than 100 makes an attempt, in accordance with GeniusIQ.
Improved spacing additionally will assist give Cardoso extra room to function within the publish. Per GeniusIQ, Cardoso’s 11.2 post-ups per 100 possessions as a rookie ranked third most amongst WNBA regulars, behind Brittney Griner and Tina Charles. Cardoso was productive in two preseason video games towards the Minnesota Lynx, combining for 23 factors, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks in 42 minutes of motion.
About the one draw back for Reese is that an improved Sky offense might imply fewer rebound alternatives after she joined Yolanda Griffith as simply the second participant in league historical past to common no less than 5 offensive rebounds per recreation final season. That is a tradeoff Reese will certainly take.
Plum joins Jackson, Brink
Like Chicago and Indiana, Los Angeles was aggressive in free company, buying and selling the No. 2 draft decide as a part of a three-team deal that landed Kelsey Plum with the Sparks through sign-and-trade. That might imply a smaller position on offense for Jackson, who completed third amongst rookies at 13.4 PPG.
Nonetheless, Jackson is the preseason favourite for Most Improved Participant at ESPN BET, with two different 2024 draft picks (Edwards and Cardoso) within the high 5. That may mark a change from current precedent. Jonquel Jones in 2017 was the final second-year participant to be named Most Improved Participant, although Jones was the third sophomore to win in a four-year span again then.
Los Angeles provides Plum to a staff that returns six of its seven main scorers, with solely Lexie Brown (traded to the Seattle Storm) lacking. The Sparks additionally might get full seasons from Odyssey Sims, a late-season pickup, and Azura Stevens, who missed half of 2024 resulting from left arm surgical procedure. Los Angeles additionally expects to get Brink again across the one-year anniversary of the left ACL tear she suffered June 18.
The No. 2 decide final yr, Brink was off to a sluggish begin offensively, capturing 40% from the sector. However her measurement made the 6-foot-4 Brink one of many league’s high rim protectors from day one. The 9% of opponent 2-point makes an attempt Brink blocked have been far and away most within the league, with no person else cracking even 7%. Having her again on the courtroom ought to assist the Sparks enhance a protection that ranked tenth on a per-possession foundation.
With Plum providing one other ballhandling choice, Jackson’s growth as a shooter might take heart stage in 12 months 2. Jackson made 35% of her 3s as a rookie, up from 31% profession in faculty and 34% in her senior yr at Tennessee. If Jackson can preserve or enhance on that capturing, Los Angeles’ offense could possibly be tough to cease.
Edwards a part of youth motion
In contrast to the opposite groups within the 2024 lottery, the Mystics did not load up this offseason. Washington went the opposite route, buying and selling Atkins to Chicago and veteran Karlie Samuelson to the Lynx. Remarkably, Edwards already has the fifth-longest tenure of any Mystics participant.
The offseason makeover has left Washington heavy within the frontcourt. The Mystics have two starting-caliber facilities in Shakira Austin and Stefanie Dolson — who teamed up within the beginning 5 when Austin was wholesome final season — together with back-to-back first-round picks at energy ahead in Edwards and rookie Kiki Iriafen. Emily Engstler and Sika Kone, who performed nicely late final season, are additionally within the combine.
Sadly, that depth already has been examined by accidents. Austin is day-to-day with a proper leg harm, whereas Edwards has been sitting out for the reason that begin of Could resulting from a decrease again contusion. The Mystics introduced Edwards can be reevaluated in two weeks, placing her availability for the season opener in query.
Assuming Edwards returns quickly, we’ll see whether or not she will translate the abilities that led her to an unlikely run to the finals of Unequalled’s 1-on-1 event. Edwards took down two No. 1 seeds — Stewart and Ogunbowale — within the tourney in addition to All-Star Allisha Grey. Edwards additionally shot 56% in Unequalled video games. Though her 49% capturing was second within the WNBA final season amongst rookies behind Cardoso, Edwards must shoot a excessive share to be environment friendly as a result of she does not make 3s (0-for-7 final season) and barely will get to the foul line.
