All things considered, it was a phenomenal 2024 season for the WNBA as the future of the league looks bright given the young star power. Yet, one star stood out amongst them all: guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick of the Indiana Fever in this year’s WNBA Draft. She met the expectations of being the top pick, winning Rookie of the Year honors.
Now, Clark can add one more title to her resume as she is TIME Magazine’s Athlete Of The Year. She finished her collegiate career at the University of Iowa as the NCAA Women’s all-time leader in points (3,951) back in February. Soon after, Clark found herself as the NCAA’s all-time leader in points.
Our Rookie of the Year and now TIME’s Athlete of the Year.
— WNBA (@WNBA) December 10, 2024
Take a bow, Caitlin Clark! ✨ pic.twitter.com/rAd6TxGa6X
Without question, she was a must-see television for fans of all ages before joining the WNBA. Evidence can be found when she and Iowa faced South Carolina in the National Championship game in April. The ratings averaged almost 19 million viewers, which made it the second-most-watched event in women’s sports to the Paris Olympics.
Caitlin Clark and More On Her Accomplishments in 2024
Outside of winning Rookie of the Year, she became the first rookie since 2008 (Candace Parker) to make the All-WNBA First Team. Overall, she was just the fifth rookie to accomplish the feat. The Des Moines, Iowa set a few more records in her rookie season:
- Double-doubles by a rookie guard in WNBA history (14)
- Points by a point guard and rookie in a season in WNBA history (769)
- Most assists by a rookie in WNBA history (337)
- To record two triple-doubles in a game
- First triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history and Fever history
- WNBA single-season rookie record for three-pointers (122)
- To be named Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in the same month
- The only player with over 700K votes for the WNBA All-Star Game (most fan votes ever)
Off the court, she inked the biggest endorsement deal with Nike in April; $28 million including a signature shoe deal. We will have to wait and see what 2025 has in store for Clark as things are looking up for her on and off the WNBA court.
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Cover Image: Cass Bird for TIME
