Caitlin Clark One Vote Shy Of Being Unanimous Rookie Of The Year As WNBA Ratings Dip

Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark is coming of an absolutely brilliant rookie season that ended in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs against the Connecticut Sun.

Not only did the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft lead Indiana to a playoff appearance after it finished last season with a 13-27 record, she put up some absurd individual numbers.

The Iowa product averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game on 42 percent shooting.

This was good enough for Clark to officially be announced as the WNBA Rookie of the Year via a press release from the league on Thursday.

"Caitlin, it feels like yesterday when I called your name to the stage as the number one pick in this year’s draft," WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert told Clark. "You held the Indiana Fever jersey for the first time and what a record-breaking season for you and the entire team full of outstanding performances.”

Though, it could be considered a bit surprising that Clark did not win the award unanimously. She got 66 of the 67 first-place votes, with Chicago Sky star Angel Reese earning the other.

I must note that Reese herself is also coming off a stellar rookie campaign. The former Clark college rival averaged 13.6 points and a whopping 13.1 rebounds for Chicago.

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Caitlin Clark Wins WNBA Rookie Of The Year After Historic Season

Clark’s impact on the women’s game was felt in historic television ratings and in-game attendance. She brought her popularity from the Hawkeyes to the professional game, helping grow the brand in the process.

This doesn’t even take into account some of the records Clark broke in her first WNBA season.

• Most assists in single-season WNBA history
• Most assists in a single game in WNBA history
• Fastest WNBA player to reach 300 assists
• First player to lead the league in both assists and three-pointers
• Most three-pointers by a rookie in WNBA history
• Second-most three-pointers in WNBA history

Clark spoke on Thursday about what the award means to her.

"I am incredibly honored to be named Rookie of the Year, but more than that, I am grateful to everyone that supported me throughout this past season – my family and friends, my teammates, the Fever organization and everyone that cheered us on all season,” Clark said.

WNBA TV Ratings Take Hit After Caitlin Clark, Fever Eliminated

To the surprise of no one who has followed the WNBA this season, Clark’s effect on the brand has been well and alive in the playoffs.

Per ESPN, Game 2 of Clark’s Fever taking on the Sun back on September 25, was the most-watched WNBA game ever. It averaged 2.5 million viewers.

After Indiana was eliminated, the seminals of this year’s WNBA Playoffs started. Sunday’s Game 2 between the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty averaged 929,000 viewers. It must also be noted that this series in a rematch from last season’s WNBA Finals.

Sure, the growing brand of the WNBA is not solely due to Clark’s presence. Las Vegas’ dynastic run with A’ja Wilson leading the charge has played a role. New York set to potentially end the Aces’ three-peat bid does, too.

We saw the WNBA grow leaps and bounds in the years leading up to Clark’s arrival. But what she has done trumps everthing else.

As for the remainder of the WNBA Playoffs, it makes sense to pay attention to the ratings. Vegas hosts New York in Game 3 on Friday night down 2-0 and facing elimination. The other semifinals series will see Connecticut host the Minnesota Lynx earlier on Friday. That best-of-five series is nodded at one.