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A16 SPORTS
Friday 4 OctOber 2024

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark a near-unanimous choice as

WNBA’s Rookie of the Year

INEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin “I’m a tough grader. I feel round of the playoffs. one that’s nit picking every for me to continue to im-
Clark has been named the like I had a solid year,” “For me, the fun part is like single thing I do. I know I prove so that’s what ex-
WNBA Rookie of the Year Clark said after the Fever I feel like I’m just scratch- want to help this franchise. cites me the most. I feel like
in a near-unanimous vote, were eliminated in the first ing the surface and I’m the I know there’s a lot of room I continue to get a lot bet-
giving the Indiana Fever ter.”
back-to-back winners after Clark was not chosen for
Aliyah Boston won the hon- the U.S. Olympic team a
or last season. decision that disappointed
A national panel of sports- her legions of fans but she
writers and sportscasters showed in the weeks after-
gave Clark 66 of 67 votes ward that she might have
in balloting released Thurs- been helpful. The Fever
day. Chicago Sky forward guard averaged 24.7 points
Angel Reese received the and 9.3 assists in her first 10
other. games after the Olympic
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick break and led Indiana to
from Iowa, averaged 19.2 an 8-2 record.
points and a league-best Clark was named the East-
8.4 assists per game while ern Conference Player of
helping the WNBA set at- the Month for August, was
tendance records and gar- Player of the Week three
ner mainstream attention. times and Rookie of the
She struggled a bit early in Month four times. She re-
the season, but found her corded the first two triple-
groove and was an All-Star doubles by a rookie in
starter. The unanimous AP WNBA history, set a league
Rookie of the Year led the single-game record with
Fever to the playoffs for the 19 assists and became the
first time since 2016 and a Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game first rookie to have at least
20-20 record after a 1-8 against the Connecticut Sun, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. Associated Press 30 points and 10 assists in a
start. game.q