Caitlin Clark was named WNBA Rookie of the Year with a near-unanimous vote, making the Indiana Fever their second straight winner after Aliyah Boston captured the title last season. A national panel of sports commentators and sportswriters awarded Clark 66 of 67 votes in a vote announced Thursday. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese received the remaining votes. Clark, the No. 1 overall pick from Iowa, averaged 19.2 points and a league-best 8.4 assists per game while helping the WNBA set attendance records and attract attention. public opinion. She struggled a bit early in the season, but found her rhythm and became an All-Star starter. The AP Rookie of the Year led the Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and posted a 20-20 record after a 1-8 start.

“I’m a tough grader. I feel like I had a solid year,” Clark said after the Fever were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. “For me, the interesting part is that I feel like I’m just scratching the surface and I’m someone who scrutinizes everything I do. I knew I wanted to help this team. I know I have a lot of room to continue to improve, so that’s what excites me the most. I feel like I continue to get a lot better.” Clark was not selected for the US Olympic team a decision that disappointed many fans but she showed in the weeks that followed that she could be useful. The Fever guard averaged 24.7 points and 9.3 assists in his first 10 games after the Olympic break and led Indiana to an 8-2 record.

Clark was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August, was Player of the Week three times and Rookie of the Month four times. She recorded the first double-double by a rookie in WNBA history, setting a league single-game record with 19 assists and becoming the first rookie with at least 30 points and 10 assists. created in a match.