The 20 all-time greatest WNBA rookie seasons

The late Dydek was the No. 1 general decide within the 1998 WNBA Draft, and although the Polish star was not named the league’s Rookie of the 12 months, she had fairly the debut season. The 7-foot-2 Dydek began all 30 video games for Utah, averaged 12.9 factors and pulled down 7.8 boards per contest. Nonetheless, Dydek’s 114 blocks that season are nonetheless essentially the most by a WNBA rookie. A two-time All-Star, Dydek additionally stays the WNBA’s all-time chief with 877 blocks.

A WNBA champion and member of the Girls’s Basketball Corridor of Fame, Penicheiro is among the many finest guards to ever play the sport. Just like the aforementioned Margo Dydek, Penicheiro didn’t take dwelling Rookie of the 12 months honors. However, till 2024, Penicheiro held the WNBA report for many assists by a rookie (225) and highest assist-per-game common (7.5). She additionally averaged a career-high 36 minutes as a rookie.

Reid by no means was by no means in a position to reside as much as a stellar first season that earned her the primary WNBA Rookie of the 12 months, nevertheless it was actually a memorable marketing campaign. The seventh-overall decide by Charlotte, Reid averaged profession highs of 13.8 factors, 5.2 rebounds and greater than a steal and help per contest, whereas beginning all 30 video games. Reid performed 5 extra seasons within the WNBA, however by no means got here near matching these scoring and rebounding averages once more.

Among the many best to ever play the sport — no matter gender. The Corridor of Famer Catchings was the No. 3 general decide by the Fever in 2001, however did not play that season whereas recovering from ACL surgical procedure. When Catchings lastly stepped on the ground within the WNBA, she was a dominant drive from the get-go. In 2002, Catchings averaged 18.6 factors (her second-highest season common), 8.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, a league-best 2.9 assists and recorded league-rookie report 94 steals, whereas incomes her first of 10 All-Star nods, a First-Crew All-WNBA choice, and serving to Indiana attain the playoffs.

Ford is certainly one of two gamers in WNBA historical past to win each Rookie of the 12 months and a league championship in the identical season. The daughter of Karl Malone, Ford, the No. 3 general decide in 2003, began all 32 video games, averaging 10.8 factors and 10.4 rebounds throughout a memorable rookie season the place he was named an All-Star for the primary of 4 occasions and received the primary of her three titles with the Shock.

One other WNBA legend who did not win the league’s Rookie of the 12 months award, Pondexter was the second general decide in 2006, and named an All-Star that very same season. Pondexter laid the muse for her stellar WNBA legacy throughout her rookie season, averaging 19.5 factors (fourth-most by a rookie), taking pictures 44.2 p.c from the sector, pulling down 37.3 p.c of her 3-point makes an attempt and meting out 3.1 assists per recreation, whereas beginning 32 video games alongside fellow WNBA icon Diana Taurasi. 

To this date, Augustus’ 21.9 factors per recreation scoring common stays the perfect of any rookie in WNBA historical past (we’re not counting Cynthia Cooper’s 22.2 ppg from the league’s inaugural 1997 season). In reality, the No. 1 general decide was the one Lynx participant to common double-digit factors in 2006. Augustus additionally holds WNBA rookie information for factors (744), common made area objectives per recreation (8.3) and common field-goal makes an attempt per recreation (18.2) whereas incomes the primary of her eight All-Star nods. 

Regardless of how a lot is completed with two 2024 WNBA rookies specifically, will probably be laborious to prime what Parker did throughout her extremely anticipated rookie season with the Sparks. After main Tennessee to consecutive nationwide championships, Parker stepped into the WNBA highlight and dominated from the beginning. In 2008, Parker averaged 18.5 factors on 52.3 p.c taking pictures, 9.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals. She even threw down just a few dunks alongside the way in which to changing into the one participant to this point to win each WNBA Rookie of the 12 months and MVP in the identical season.

One of many nice put up gamers within the historical past of the WNBA, Charles held the report for complete rebounds (398) and common rebounds per recreation (11.7) by a rookie till each marks fell throughout the 2024 marketing campaign. That rebounding common additionally led the league, whereas Charles averaged 15.5 factors and shot 48.7 p.c from the sector in her first season with the Solar. Two years later, Charles can be named WNBA MVP. Nonetheless, she remains to be chasing that elusive league championship.

Moore joins the aforementioned Cheryl Ford as the one gamers to win each WNBA Rookie of the 12 months and a league championship in the identical season. The general No. 1 decide in 2011, Moore clearly had a right away impression in serving to the Lynx win the primary of the franchise’s 4 WNBA championships. Amid a roster loaded with gifted stars like Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, Moore averaged 13.2 factors, made 37 p.c of her 3-point makes an attempt and in addition pulled down 4.6 boards and dished out 2.6 assists per recreation to start her Corridor of Fame profession.

Ogwumike actually lived as much as the hype that got here together with being the general No. 1 decide within the WNBA Draft. In her extremely anticipated first season with the Sparks, Ogwumike averaged 14 factors on 53.5 p.c taking pictures from the sector. She additionally pulled down 7.5 rebounds per contest and recorded greater than an help and steal per recreation. Ogwumike was not named an All-Star in 2012, however honored because the league’s Rookie of the 12 months.

Delle Donne is the one No. 2 general draft decide to win the WNBA Rookie of the 12 months Award, and he or she did so by placing collectively one of the celebrated seasons by a rookie in any sport — no matter gender. Beginning all 30 video games she performed for the Sky in 2013, the 6-foot-5 Delle Donne averaged 18.1 factors and made 43.8 p.c of her pictures from 3-point vary. To not point out, Delle Donne’s 92.9 p.c efficiency from the free-throw line stays a rookie report.

Two years after sister Nneka was named WNBA Rookie of the 12 months, it was Chiney’s flip to obtain the consideration. Chosen first general by Connecticut in 2014, the youthful Ogwumike averaged 15.5 factors and eight.5 rebounds per recreation as a rookie. Chiney was additionally named an All-Star together with Nneka, the 2 thus changing into the primary sisters to be chosen for a similar WNBA All-Star Recreation.

Stewart received 4 straight titles at UConn as the perfect school basketball participant within the nation, then was poised to proceed that particular person and workforce success on the professional stage with Seattle. Throughout her first marketing campaign in 2016, Stewart averaged 18.3 factors on 45.7 p.c taking pictures, 9.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per recreation to simply win WNBA Rookie of the 12 months honors. Two years later, Stewart received her first of two WNBA MVP awards and league championships with the Storm.

At present the perfect participant within the WNBA, Wilson, like most others on this checklist, appeared destined to be a professional legend. Earlier than she was a two-time WNBA MVP and league champion, Wilson put collectively top-of-the-line rookie seasons in any skilled basketball league. She posted a double-double in her first recreation, and by the point the 2018 season got here to an finish, Wilson averaged 20.7 factors per recreation — ranked third all-time for a rookie. Her 682 rookie factors, by way of 46.2 p.c taking pictures, ranked second all-time coming into the 2024 season. Wilson additionally averaged eight rebounds per contest en path to being named WNBA Rookie of the 12 months. 

An elite performer at each ends of the courtroom, Collier was taken sixth general by the Lynx in 2019. In her WNBA debut, Collier scored 27 factors to put the muse for a stellar professional profession that continues to thrive. Getting into the 2024 season, she joins Tamika Catchings as the one WNBA rookies to report not less than 400 factors, 200 rebounds and 60 steals. Throughout that season, Collier averaged 13.1 factors and shot 49 p.c whereas averaging greater than 33 minutes per contest. She additionally averaged 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals throughout her first marketing campaign within the league.

Standing simply 5-foot-5, Dangerfield has at all times performed greater than her bodily stature. Upon being drafted within the second spherical (sixteenth general) by Minnesota, Dangerfield was slated for a reserve spot as a rookie. Nonetheless, accidents on the roster thrusted Dangerfield into the place to begin guard position and he or she made the a lot of the alternative. She averaged a team-leading — and career-high — 16.2 factors per contest on 47.1-percent taking pictures and three.6 assists to change into the primary participant not drafted within the first spherical to win WNBA Rookie of the 12 months.

Following a legendary profession at South Carolina, Boston greater than held her personal as a rookie within the WNBA in 2023. A unanimous Rookie of the 12 months choice, Boston averaged 14.5 factors per recreation and shot a league-best 57.8 p.c whereas beginning 40 video games in her first run with the Fever — fairly the accomplishment for a membership that went 13-27 that season. Boston additionally averaged 8.4 rebounds and a pair of.2 assists whereas being named an All-Star, as effectively.

There have been actually large issues anticipated from Reese, who was chosen seventh general by the Sky, however did anyone see her breaking Sylvia Fowles’ single-season rebounds report (404) by Sept. 1? Properly, Reese did simply that, and clearly set a rookie report within the course of earlier than her season was lower quick in early September with a wrist damage. As well as, Reese completed her stellar rookie marketing campaign averaging 13.6 factors and 13.1 rebounds. On June 30, she recorded a WNBA single-season report tenth straight double-double. Reese can be the primary WNBA rookie to put up a double-double (12 factors, 11 rebounds) within the All-Star Recreation.

In every other season, the aforementioned Angel Reese is likely to be the runaway winner of WNBA Rookie of the 12 months. Nonetheless, Clark, the favourite to win the award, seems effectively on her approach to doing so. When the 2024 season is all stated and completed, Clark’s rookie accomplishments, not less than from a statistical standpoint, may very well be in competition for the best season by a WNBA rookie — even higher than Parker, Catchings, Stewart or Augustus. As of Sept. 1, Clark already broke Ticha Penicheiro’s recorded for single-season assists and common assists per recreation by a rookie, and shattered Tamika Catchings’ Indiana rookie mark of 594 factors. And, is averaging greater than 18 factors and eight assists per contest.