Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was unanimously named the 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year on Sunday. Although this is not the official WNBA Rookie of the Year award, it is still a prestigious honor that Clark secured unanimously. With exceptional averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, Clark set multiple WNBA records during her rookie season, earning her some MVP consideration and finishing fourth in the voting for that award, which was won by Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson.
A’ja Wilson unanimously wins MVP for the first time since Cynthia Cooper did so in 1997. Wilson garnered all 67 first-place votes.
Caitlin Clark finishes fourth in MVP voting, with votes ranging between third and fifth place. Kelsey Mitchell also got some votes. pic.twitter.com/I0HZwPFLJv
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) September 22, 2024
Wilson claimed the 2024 WNBA MVP title unanimously, a result widely anticipated. However, controversy arose lower in the voting results, particularly over Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese receiving a fourth-place MVP vote. This vote sparked attention when some media speculated it could affect Clark’s chances of winning the official Rookie of the Year award unanimously.
AP Sports’ Tim Reynolds noted on X that Clark’s unanimous rookie status might be jeopardized unless the voter who placed Reese fourth in the MVP race was also one of the six voters who ranked Clark third. Although Clark received the AP Rookie of the Year award unanimously, the Reese vote introduces the possibility that she may not achieve the same result for the official award. Reese, who averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds and set multiple records before a wrist injury cut her season short, had an impressive campaign.
It's unlikely that Caitlin Clark will be the unanimous rookie of the year, unless the voter that ranked Angel Reese 4th in the MVP race was one of the six who ranked Clark 3rd in the MVP race.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 22, 2024
Notable media figures criticized the voter who placed Reese fourth on their MVP ballot, with James Boyd of The Athletic even calling for that individual to be banned from voting. Despite the controversy, Clark is still expected to win the official Rookie of the Year title, but the likelihood of it being unanimous has come into question.
