Caitlin Clark Joe Buglewicz/Getty Photographs
Caitlin Clark wasn’t alone when she came upon that she’s the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the 12 months.
On Thursday, October 3, the league introduced that it had topped the Indiana Fever phenom, 22, with the very best honor for a newcomer. After the information broke, the Fever posted a video by way of X displaying the second days earlier when Clark first heard about her achievement.
The clip reveals the purpose guard at apply forward of the staff’s September 25 recreation towards the Connecticut Solar. (The Solar defeated the Fever, 87-81, booting the latter out of the playoffs.) Whereas Clark stood on the courtroom along with her teammates, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert personally known as them to relay the excellent news prematurely.
“Caitlin, it seems like simply yesterday that I known as your title to the stage because the primary choose on this 12 months’s draft,” Engelbert informed Clark. “You held the Indiana Fever jersey for the primary time, and what a record-breaking season for you and all the staff stuffed with excellent performances — and I do know all of you had arduous work and dedication, and it’s paid off together with your playoffs, etcetera.”
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Whereas listening to Englebert’s preamble, Clark smiled and appeared a bit nervous. Her face was stuffed with restrained emotion.
“I do know the most effective is but to return,” Engelbert continued. “So, congratulations, Caitlin. You’re the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the 12 months!”
Clark then pumped her fist within the air with pleasure as her fellow athletes crowded round her and cheered, leaping up and down.
Clark’s boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, an assistant males’s basketball coach at Butler College, reposted the WNBA’s announcement of her “Rookie” title to his Instagram Tales on Thursday.
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Earlier this month, McCaffery, 26, had the right response to his girlfriend being named the Related Press WNBA Rookie of the 12 months. “Duh,” he wrote in his Tales.
“Caitlin is particular. Everyone is aware of that. She’s been particular,” Fever coach Christie Sides informed the IndyStar of Clark in a postgame interview on September 22. “She got here into the most effective league on the planet. She discovered her footing. She’s continued to get higher. She’s put herself ready to be among the best gamers on this league. She’s one of many causes we’re right here in the present day.”
Although Clark didn’t take the Fever to the WNBA Finals, she broke information throughout her debut as a basketball professional. She broke the rookie report for many factors scored in a season in addition to a single-season help benchmark.
“I’m a tricky grader. I really feel like I had a stable 12 months,” Clark stated final week, per the AP. “For me, the enjoyable half is like I really feel like I’m simply scratching the floor and I’m the one which’s nitpicking each single factor I do. I do know I wish to assist this franchise. … I do know there’s a variety of room for me to proceed to enhance in order that’s what excites me probably the most. I really feel like I proceed to get rather a lot higher.”
