Tag: womens-sports

It’s been well-chronicled that the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game was a turning point for the popularity of women’s basketball — millions tuned in nationwide as LSU defeated Iowa to win the championship, and a media-driven rivalry between LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was born.

Two years later, both Reese and Clark players are pros, and are tearing up the WNBA. Their games could not be more different; Clark is a playmaking sharpshooter, while Reese is known for her tenacious rebounding and defense, but both players have managed to effectively transition to the professional level with relative ease.

Meanwhile, Cameron Brink — who was ranked No. 1 in the previous edition of the Rookie Power Rankings after a dominant defensive start to the season — is out for the year with a torn ACL. It’s a big loss for the Sparks, who relied on her defensive presence, and for Brink herself, who was due to compete on the 3v3 Olympic basketball team in Paris next month.

But those aren’t the only rookies who have made their impact felt, so let’s get to the June edition of SB Nation’s WNBA rookie power rankings.

8. Kate Martin, Las Vegas Aces

Stats: 4 points (34.7% FG), 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Previous ranking: #8
Team Record: 8-6

Kate Martin has been a reliable bench piece for the two-time defending champions, averaging 17.2 minutes per night when most expected her to go undrafted or be cut from the team’s final roster. Martin has been in and out of the rotation, but has been an effective connective piece when given the minutes.

“I couldn’t ask for a better experience,” Martin said. “I’ve been welcomed with open arms. I have great vets surrounding me. I have great coaches surrounding me. I love Las Vegas, we have great fan support. It’s been tremendous so far.”

Martin maintains her 8th spot on the list despite limited minutes, as she’s been a strong defender and serves as a reliable option on what is likely the most star-studded roster in the WNBA.

7. Sevgi Uzun, Dallas Wings

Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Stats: 7.3 points (36.2% FG), 4.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds
Previous ranking: #7
Team Record: 3-13

Sevgi Uzun helped lead the Turkish Fenerbahçe to back-to-back Euroleague championships, and has adjusted well in her first season in the WNBA.

At age 26, Uzun has far more basketball experience than most rookies, and it’s shown in her decision-making. She’s struggled with her shot, however, shooting just 23.6% from three. Uzun’s ranking spot hasn’t taken a hit since last month, but her three-point percentage has dipped — she shot 41.7% from three this time last month, and that number has fallen by 18%.

6. Julie Vanloo, Washington Mystics

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

Stats: 7.9 points (36.1% FG, 33% from three), 5.4 assists, 3 turnovers
Previous ranking: #5
Team Record: 4-13

Julie Vanloo, who is 31 years old but in her first year in the WNBA, has been one of the premier playmakers in the league. Her 5.4 assists per game are good for 8th overall, and second among rookies.

It’s all led to an effective transition into the league for the 5’8 Belgian guard, whose energy has helped the Mystics.

“Vanloo’s just got a different kind of motor,” Sun head coach Stephanie White said after the two teams faced off. “She gets after it and you can’t relax.”

Vanloo’s efficiency has decreased in recent weeks, however; her field goal percentage has waned, and she hasn’t shot 50% or better on any given night since May 21st. Still, she’s been an effective playmaker, and the Mystics — after a brutal start to the year — have won four of their last five games.

5. Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Stats: 9.8 points (46.3% FG, 29% from three), 3.3 rebounds,
Previous ranking: #4
Team Record: 4-13

Rickea Jackson, picked fourth overall, has been another solid rookie for the Sparks. Already one of the most efficient rookies in this class, Jackson could see increased minutes with Brink out for the season.

She’s averaged 23.4 minutes per game this season, but that’s trended downwards in the last few. But when given increased minutes, Jackson has had several big offensive outings this year, including three games in which she’s scored at least 16 points.

But, the Sparks have lost six straight and Jackson’s production — and offensive touches — have fallen a bit. She’s scored 6 and 7 points, respectively, in her last two games, while grabbing a total of only two rebounds.

4. Aaliyah Edwards, Washington Mystics

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Stats: 8.8 points (50% FG), 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Previous ranking: #6
Team Record: 4-13

The Mystics had a very slow start to the season — losers of their first 12 games — but Aaliyah Edwards has been one of the big bright spots for a franchise in a difficult spot. Her two best games of the season have been against the Sky; on June 6, she put up 23 points (10-12 FG) and 14 rebounds, and on June 14 she had 16 points (6-7 FG) and 9 rebounds in a win.

“Aaliyah is one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever been around,” teammate Ariel Atkins said earlier this month. “Just her ability to learn so quickly, which is so important at this level.

The Mystics have won two of their last three games, and all of their June losses except for one were in the single digits, so they’re trending in the right direction.

3. Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky

Jacob Musselman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Stats: 9.3 points (51.5% FG), 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Previous ranking: n/a
Team Record: 6-9

Kamilla Cardoso missed the first couple weeks of the season with a shoulder injury. But, the third overall pick has looked increasingly comfortable in her minutes with the Sky, grabbing double-digit rebounds in each of her last three games. She put together her best game of the season on Sunday – 16 points on 7-9 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and 3 assists – and is averaging an efficient 9.3 points in nine games played so far this year.

Cardoso and Angel Reese have formed a formidable frontcourt, particularly on the glass, and Cardoso is the only rookie shooting better than 50% from the field. Her well-rounded performance, combined with Brink’s season-ending injury, has catapulted her to third in the rookie rankings.

2. Angel Reese, Chicago Sky

Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Stats: 13.2 points (40.6% FG), 11.1 rebonds (4.7 offensive), 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals
Previous ranking: #3
Team Record: 6-9

Angel Reese, drafted seventh by the Sky, was one of the WNBA-ready players in the class from the jump, and has already established herself as one of the most tenacious rebounders in the league. Most recently, she set a WNBA rookie record for most consecutive double-doubles after a 16-point, 18-rebound performance in a Thursday win against the Wings.

“I just want to win. I came to Chicago to win,” Reese said. “Luckily, I was drafted No. 7 and came to Chicago and was able to come here and thrive. Being able to have great teammates, great coaches, and just a great atmosphere and culture here that really, really loves me, that’s what’s important to me.”

She followed that up with her best game as a pro — a 25-point, 16-rebound outing in a win over the Fever.

“I’m a dog,” she told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game. “You can’t teach that.”

Reese is already the second-leading rebounder in the league — averaging 11.1 a night — and is the leading offensive rebounder (4.7). Her field goal percentage has room to improve (she’s shooting just 40.6% from the field) but she’s otherwise impacting the game at a very high level, especially for a first-year player.

1. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

Stats: 16.3 points (39.9% FG, 35.2% from three), 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 5.6 turnovers
Previous ranking: #2
Team Record: 7-11

After a tough start to the WNBA season, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever have managed to turn things around. Clark had a big week last week — she followed a 23-point, 8-rebound, 9-assist outing in a win over the Sky with another near triple-double of 18 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Then, on Sunday, she broke a Fever franchise record of most assists in a singular game (13) in a loss to the Sky, while also putting up 17 points.

The turnover numbers are still not ideal — she’s leading the league with 5.6 a night — but Clark has become increasingly efficient and connected to her teammates. That’s evidenced in the Fever winning 4 of their last 5 games. As teammates get comfortable with her passing, that number will go down as well. Her turnovers are indicative of a desire to playmake; Alyssa Thomas, who leads the league in assists, has the second-most turnovers per game with 3.9 a night.

“I’m trying to get to know my teammates and the coaching staff, but I feel like I have gotten more comfortable over the course of these games,” Clark said last week. “There’s still more than half a season left, and I really feel like we’ve grown so much.”

If she — and the Fever — keep growing at this speed, she may hang on atop these rankings for quite a while.