Caitlin Clark, the sensational rookie for the Indiana Fever, was unable to become the second Rookie-MVP in WNBA history, behind Candace Parker.
Despite having a tremendous first season, Clark had no qualms about coming in fourth place in the WNBA MVP voting.
Prior to Game 1 of their best-of-three playoff series against the Connecticut Sun on September 22, Clark told reporters, “I mean, it is cool, but I do not really care.” That does not really have an impact on my life. We really just wanted to make it to the playoffs, so I am just going to go out there and support my team. One game at a time, I think we can come in here and win this series. I believe that is where my attention is now.
Despite being a consensus pick with 670 points, A’ja Wilson, the great center for the Las Vegas Aces, won her first MVP award.
With six third-place votes, 26 third-place votes, and 22 fourth-place votes, Clark received 130 points.
Wilson had a fantastic season, earning all 67 first-place votes. She broke the WNBA scoring record with 1,021 points, making history as the first player to score more than 1,000 points in a single season.
Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx (467 points) and Breanna Stewart, a great player for the New York Liberty (295 points), came in second and third, respectively.
The No. 1 overall draft pick, Caitlin Clark, had a historic rookie season. She concluded the regular season averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Along the way, she shattered multiple rookie records in the WNBA.
With 337 assists, Clark had the most assists of any rookie. With 19, she also eclipsed the record for most assists in a single game. In addition, she made history by being the first rookie to record a triple-double and to make the most 3-pointers of any player in WNBA history with 122.
Clark scored 337 points, which was also the most points scored by a point guard in a single WNBA season, according to ESPN. She was also the first rookie in WNBA history to have 20+ points, 15+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a game, as well as to win Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in the same month.
Overnight, the former Iowa standout turned the Fever into a postseason contender. The Fever had a 1-7 start, but thanks to Clark’s outstanding rookie campaign, they managed to sneak into the WNBA playoffs as the sixth seed.
Angel Reese, a forward with the Chicago Sky and a longstanding collegiate rival of Clark’s, is the clear favorite to earn WNBA Rookie of the Year. The award recipient will be revealed by the WNBA later this week.
Rookie Season by Caitlin Clark is a Box Office Success
Despite losing the MVP competition, Clarks is without a doubt the most well-liked WNBA player.
Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press reports that attendance in Fever games has averaged 16,084 each game, while attendance at non-Fever games has only averaged 8,552 per game, a significant 88% disparity.
The popularity of Clark has also carried over nicely into the
