WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds

Cameron Brink

WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds

The WNBA is underway, and while there is still plenty of basketball to be played, the conversation surrounding who will win Rookie of the Year for the 2024 season has already begun. Coming into the season, it would’ve been easy to assume that Indiana Fever No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark, as the all-time leading NCAA scorer, would run away with it. While she has mostly played well, the team currently sits at 3-9, which could sway some voters away from her. That could open the door for someone else to sneak in and snatch the award. Let’s look at a few of the early favorites and a long shot who may surprise us all.

2024 Rookie of the Year Odds

  1. Caitlin Clark: -650
  2. Cameron Brink: +700
  3. Angel Reese: +1200
  4. Rickea Jackson: +4000
  5. Kamilla Cardoso: +4200

The Favorites

 

Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever (-650)

Although the Indiana Fever are just 3-9, Clark has still played fairly well. Through her first 12 games, Clark is averaging 16.8 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. She is struggling with turnovers which could impact voting, but not all of those turnovers are her fault and as involved as she is some turnovers are to be expected. Clark also recently had the best game of her career when she put up 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals against the Washington Mystics. But it wasn’t just the final stat line, it was how she did it. It was a vintage Caitlin Clark game with a logo, fade-away three-pointers, and pinpoint passing. It was a great game for Clark after being named Rookie of the Month for the month of May. 

Cameron Brink, F, Los Angeles Sparks (+700)

Brink is making this a close race, at least early in the season. Brink’s outpacing Clark in rebounds as well as field goal percentage (albeit while taking far fewer shots.) With the perception being that defense is Clark’s Achilles heel, if Brink continues to be productive in that regard while also contributing on offense she could narrow the gap between her and Clark. Even if Clark continues to pace other rookies offensively, it’s not out of the question that she could lose the award to a player who voters feel is a bit more well-rounded at this point in their career.

Angel Reese, F, Chicago Sky (+1200)

Reese is nearly averaging a double-double with 11.6 points per game, 9.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 steals. She’s also in the top 5 in the league in free throws attempted per game, with 5.9, showing that many aspects of her game at LSU naturally translate to the professional level. Reese’s chances are bolstered by being on the best team of the three, having defeated the defending Eastern Conference champion New York Liberty 90-81 on May 23rd. Reese is also just the third player in WNBA history to record 15 offensive rebounds in her first three games. If she continues playing at this level, Reese and Clark could once again find themselves the topic of much debate.

The Longshot

 

Kamilla Cardoso, C, Chicago Sky (+4200)

With her teammate Angel Reese receiving all the praise we still shouldn’t forget that it was South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso who was the Chicago Sky’s first pick back in April at No. 3 overall. However, Cardoso does have some catching up to do, having played just four WNBA games thus far. With Reese’s defense and rebounding keeping her squarely in the ROTY conversation, it is likely that she will continue to outshine Cardoso throughout the season, making it hard for the latter to climb up the ranks. But as the season goes on, anything could happen.

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