A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are unanimous choices for WNBA AP Player and Rookie of the Year
A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark have achieved unprecedented success this season, setting records in the WNBA that have never been witnessed before.
Wilson made history as the first player in the league to surpass 1,000 points in a single season, averaging an impressive 26.9 points per game. Meanwhile, Clark established a new record for assists in a season and became the highest-scoring rookie in league history.
Consequently, it is not surprising that both players were recognized on Sunday as the unanimous selections for the AP Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards, respectively, by a panel of 15 media members.
“It means a lot," Wilson expressed during a phone interview with The Associated Press. “The preparation you put in, the approach I set myself up for this season.”
Earlier on Sunday, the Las Vegas Aces star was also unanimously named the league's MVP. The WNBA is set to announce additional awards throughout the postseason, which commenced on Sunday.
Wilson concluded the regular season with 1,021 points and 451 rebounds, leading the league with 98 blocks. Last season, she finished third in the WNBA MVP voting, receiving one fourth-place vote that motivated her during the offseason to improve.
“It propelled me a little bit as I started my offseason workouts, but around February I was over it," Wilson remarked. "I didn’t want to give that person that energy; that’s when I started to lock in.”.
Clark entered the league with unprecedented anticipation, arguably more than any rookie in history, and she fulfilled those expectations by guiding the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. She set a new WNBA single-season record with 337 assists, which included a remarkable league-high of 19 assists in a single game. Additionally, she established a new single-season rookie scoring record, averaging 19.2 points per game.
“It is a great honor to be recognized as The Associated Press Rookie of the Year,” she remarked. “This achievement would not have been possible without the support of my outstanding teammates and coaches, and we are eager to carry this momentum into the postseason.”
Beyond her on-court achievements, she played a significant role in elevating the WNBA's ratings and attendance to record levels.
Clark was a standout on the all-rookie team, alongside Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, who set a new record for rebounds per game with an average of 13.1. Reese would have also claimed the overall rebounding record had she not sustained an injury at the season's conclusion. Other notable rookies on the team included Leonie Fiebich from New York, Rickea Jackson from Los Angeles, and Kamilla Cardoso from Chicago.
Tiffany Hayes, a teammate of Wilson, received the AP Sixth Woman of the Year accolade.
“She significantly impacts our team in numerous ways, both on the court and within the locker room,” Wilson remarked. “Tiff may not be the most vocal leader, yet her words command attention — a testament to her exceptional talent.”
Wilson and Clark were prominent members of the AP All-WNBA first team, alongside Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Alyssa Thomas. The second team featured Sabrina Ionescu, Kahleah Copper, Nneka Ogwumike, Kayla McBride, and Arike Ogunbowale.
Additional AP award recipients included:
—Coach of the Year: Cheryl Reeve, who guided Minnesota to a second-place finish in the regular season despite being projected to finish ninth in the preseason. The Lynx secured the Commissioner's Cup and concluded the regular season with 13 victories in their last 15 games.
—Comeback Player of the Year: Skylar Diggins-Smith, a guard for the Seattle Storm, who missed the previous season due to the birth of her second child. This season, Diggins-Smith averaged 15.1 points and 6.4 assists.
Most Improved Player: Dearica Hamby. The forward for the Los Angeles Sparks experienced a significant enhancement in her performance this season, averaging 17.3 points per game, which is an increase of 8.4 points compared to the previous season. Additionally, she improved her rebounding average by over three per game. Hamby narrowly surpassed Connecticut's DiJonai Carrington by a single vote.
Defensive Player: Collier. The star player for the Lynx had an outstanding season, excelling on both offense and defense, but she was particularly instrumental in fortifying Minnesota's exceptional defensive unit. The team boasted the best defense in the WNBA this season, largely due to Collier's contributions. Wilson trailed in second place, finishing three votes behind Collier.
“I take great pride in Phee’s defensive efforts in 2024. Her dedication to every facet of our defense — including deflections, denials, steals, blocks, and rebounds — was crucial in establishing one of the league's top defensive teams and contributed to her most successful season as a professional,” Reeve remarked.
Minnesota secured the top position in the power rankings, followed by New York in second place. Las Vegas and Connecticut occupied the next two spots, with Seattle, Indiana, Atlanta, and Phoenix following. Washington, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles rounded out the rankings.
SportsLigue