Caitlin Clark Rookie of the Year: Top 10 Best Moments Ranked

Caitlin Clark has been a remarkable basketball player, let alone a rookie in 2024. She displayed an immense level of composure and skill even when some of the members of the WNBA community criticized her for her overhyped fame. Nevertheless, it seems like she did not pay any heed to them as it is evident from the stats chart of the Indiana Fever guard. That’s why she was able to make the best of her rookie year in the coveted league and made sure to stand best to her fame and expectations.

On her way to being the best among the top tiers in her debut season, Caitlin Clark hit various milestones. In the following article, we will go through the records that Caitlin Clark made and the accolades she got for her achievements.

Caitlin Clark Rookie of the Year: The Best 10 Defining Moments

Some of the best performances create several memories for the fans, and Caitlin Clark did it in her debut season. And it was so perfect that it earned her the 2024 WNBA Kia Rookie Of The Year award. Since she has already hit the greatest achievement that any player can achieve in the league, let’s check out the highlight moments from her journey that left fans in awe of the talent of the Indiana Fever domination. These moments not only entertained but also gave hope to the fans for the future of WNBA.

1. Dominating Debut

Even though her debut was not as explosive as fans expected it to be, Caitlin Clark managed to make an impact in her debut game against the Connecticut Sun. It was a tough game for the Indiana Fever guard as the Sun defense was continuously going for the turnovers. With a team of veterans like Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, the Connecticut Sun team did not underestimate Caitlin Clark, limiting her performance to only 20 points.

However, even on her bad day, Caitlin emerged to be the leading scorer on her team. Only DeWanna Bonner was able to score the same point tally as Clark in that game. Unfortunately, Indiana Fever could not win that game, but the team got a new powerhouse in the form of Caitlin Clark.

2. Surpassing 500 Points Milestone

When it comes to scoring the bucket, there was nothing normal about Caitlin Clark from the 2024 WNBA season. As per official WNBA data, she scored a whopping 769 points in a single season as a rookie this year. However, it was a journey for the Indiana Fever guard, and the milestone event was when Caitlin Clark hit the 500-point milestone during the regular season game.

On August 24, 2024, Caitlin Clark achieved the remarkable feat while playing against the Minnesota Lynx on a Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. Also, Caitlin Clark achieved this feat in just 29 games after her debut, which is an eye-popping fact itself.

3. Game-winning buzzer Beater

Caitlin Clark has been a great shooter since her debut in the WNBA. Although she is not as elite as other players, like the top-tier shooters, she managed to maintain the three-point percentage at 34.4% this season. However, her ability to deliver during the clutch moments is what makes her special in the league. During a game between Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever on September 9 this year where Indiana was leading by one point, Caitlin Clark wanted to make an impact.

And she got it during the end seconds of the game when she stepped back without 3 seconds left on the clock. The Indiana Fever guard then took her stance and drilled through the basket in the form of a buzzer-beater as a 3-pointer. The Fever team won that match by 4 4-point margin thanks to their rookie guard.

4. Breaking Three-Point Field Goal Record As A Rookie WNBA History

Caitlin Clark kept reminding the opponents of her shooting prowess whenever they tried to clasp her around the paint. One such instance popped up on June 7, 2024, this year when Indiana Fever appeared before the Washington Mystics in the WNBA 2024 season. Clark scored about 30 points, including seven three-pointers beyond the arc. It set a franchise record for Caitlin Clark’s as the most 3-pointers made by a rookie in a single game.

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5. The Pioneering Triple-Double

Caitlin Clark continuously strived for an all-round performance though her shooting was excellent in the second half of the season. However, she achieved her ambition during the July 6 game last season against the New York Liberty. By doing so, she not only became the first player in franchise history but also the one and only WNBA rookie to tally a triple-double in a pro game. On that night, Caitlin Clark dished out 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds.

6. An unforgettable game against Washington Mystics

A month after showcasing her 30-point play to the Washington Mystics, Caitlin Clark delivered another notable performance of her rookie year on July 10, 2024. After the 1973-74 era, she became the first player, whether it be WNBA or NBA, to score at least 29 points, five rebounds, 13 assists, 3 steals, and five three-pointers.

It justified the hype around Caitlin Clark’s play style since her numbers not only rival the women’s basketball players. But they also stand equal to any basketball player whether it be male or female.

7. Most Assists In A Single Game

Usually, the on-court domination of Caitlin Clark compels the audience to perceive her as one of the most aggressive scorers. However, she is more than just an individual scorer as she also plays well in the game of assist. When the defense was not wide open, Caitlin Clark tried to lure the defenders to herself for a basket. That’s why on July 17, 2024, against the Dallas Wings, Clark handed over the rein of scoring to her fellow players.

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She made 19 assists in a single game, setting up the record for most assists from a player in a regular season game as per WNBA record. Also, Caitlin Clark set a new record for most assists in a single game by any player in the WNBA league ever.

8. Highest Scoring Season by Caitlin Clark as a Rookie

As the season’s end approached, Caitlin Clark upped her game against the Dallas Wings. On September 1, 2024, Caitlin Clark made history by becoming the highest-scoring individual in the WNBA history as a rookie. The Indiana Fever guard made history by dishing out 28 points against the Dallas Wings in a mid-season game.

9. Career-High Score In Season-Ending Game

During her last regular season game on the home turf of the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark did not stay away from hitting another milestone as she recorded her career-high 35-point game in the pro league on September 15, 2024. It came on the 10 of 22 shooting from the three-point line, taking her total WNBA point tally to 761 points. It seemed like an adieu to a memorable season that Caitlin Clark gave in her way.

10. The Double Double Streak

Through the games between June 30 and July 12, Caitlin Clark recorded five double-doubles in consecutive games. The record was set in terms of points and assists and emerged as the longest streak in terms of points/assists double-doubles in league history from a WNBA player. Also, it’s not just the streak. Rather, the six-footer guard also has her name etched for having the most double-doubles [9] as a rookie in WNBA history.

Caitlin Clark’s Achievements & Accolades 

In addition to her memorable moments, Caitlin Clark accumulated various accolades coming her way due to her performance. Here are some of them as highlighted by the official site of the Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark’s season culminated in being named Rookie of the Year, a title she had been working toward from her debut game onward. Her statistics, poise, and game-changing plays led to her being a unanimous choice for this honor. The 2024 Kia Rookie of the Year was in some way already in the name of Caitlin Clark since she had already earned the Rookie of the Month title multiple in the previous season. Below are some of the accolades she achieved throughout her career:

Category	Achievement
The Sharpshooter	Made 104 three-pointers from 27-32 feet, with a league-leading mean depth of 28.04 feet.
Scoring Title Queen	Led the WNBA in rookie single-season scoring with 769 points.
Unique Offense-Defense Combo	Only player to record at least 20 blocks and 35 steals while shooting 54% FG, 30% 3PT, and 89% FT in a season.
Franchise Assist Leader	Set the Indiana Fever record for most assists in a season (213), breaking the previous record of 201 in just 26 games.
Multiple Rookie of the Month Honors	Won Rookie of the Month four times (May, July, August, September) and also won Player of the Month in the same month.
Triple-Double Record Setter	First WNBA rookie to record two triple-doubles in a single season.
Fan Favorite & Social Media Sensation	Broke the All-Star voting record with 700,735 votes, the most in WNBA history.
Top-Ranked Among Rookie Stats	Led all rookies in PPG (17.1), APG (8.2), SPG (1.5), FT% (89.1%), FGM (138), 3PTM (71), and MPG (35.2).
All-Star Dominance	Tied for second-most assists (10) in a WNBA All-Star Game as a rookie.

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