INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark has reportedly been named WNBA Rookie of the Year following the Indiana Fever's historic season that saw a 1-8 start result in a playoff berth.
According to a social media post from Shams Charania, Clark was named the award's winner alongside Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who has won Defensive Player of the Year. Las Vegas center A'ja Wilson was named league MVP and Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington won Most Improved Player.
Clark had a record-breaking season on and off the court. She broke the single-season assist record, as well as setting the league's individual game mark. The unanimous AP Rookie of the Year also broke the rookie record for points in a season.
Off the court, Clark and her fellow rookies have been a ratings and attendance boon for the WNBA. Despite the blowout loss in Game 1 against the Sun, fans tuned in as the game averaged 1.8 million viewers according to ESPN, making it the WNBA's most watched playoff game since the 2000 Finals. It was the most watched playoff game on ESPN ever despite going up against the NFL.
Six different league television partners set viewership records this year for its highest viewed WNBA game — and all of those games included the Fever. Also, WTHR is the Local TV Home of the Fever, broadcasting 15 games this season on WTHR and WALV/MeTV.
Thanks to Clark, the Fever led the league in attendance both at home and on the road. The Fever averaged 17,036 at home and over 15,000 on the road. Four teams moved home games to bigger arenas when Indiana came to town to accommodate more fans.
In the regular season, Clark and Kelsey Mitchell both averaged 19.2 points per game, finishing in the top 10 in the league in scoring. Clark led the league in assists and 3-pointers made, averaging 8.4 and 3.0 per game, respectively. Aliyah Boston finished in the top 10 in the league in rebounding, with 8.9 per game.
