Caitlin Clark (Picture by Alex Slitz/Getty Photographs)
Caitlin Clark was named the WNBA Rookie of the Yr and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, had the proper response.
“Duh,” McCaffery, 26, wrote through Instagram Story, to which he had shared the Indiana Fever’s publish saying Clark, 22, because the Related Press WNBA Rookie of the Yr on Sunday, September 22, the identical day she made her playoffs debut in Connecticut in opposition to the Solar. (The Fever misplaced to the Connecticut Solar 93-69.)
Because the No. 1 general choose within the 2024 WNBA draft, the Fever guard was unanimously named the highest rookie within the league by the Related Press. Per the Indiana Fever, Clark and Aliyah Boston are the one gamers for the workforce to ever be named AP Rookie of the Yr.
“Caitlin is particular. Everyone is aware of that. She’s been particular,” Fever coach Christie Facets advised the IndyStar of Clark on Sunday in a postgame interview. “She got here into the most effective league on the planet. She discovered her footing. She’s continued to get higher. She’s put herself able to be probably the greatest gamers on this league. She’s one of many causes we’re right here in the present day.”
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Clark spoke to AP in regards to the “large honor,” and took the chance to gush over her teammates. “This recognition wouldn’t be doable with out an unimaginable group of teammates and coaches, and we’re wanting ahead to persevering with an thrilling common season within the postseason,” she stated on Sunday.
Clark additionally obtained the honors of being named to the All-WNBA First Workforce, the place she is joined by Napheese Collier, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas and A’ja Wilson, in addition to the AP All-Rookie Workforce alongside Kamilla Cardoso, Leonie Fiebich, Rickea Jackson and Angel Reese.
It’s no secret that McCaffery and Clark are one another’s largest followers. After she was named the No. 1 WNBA draft choose, the couple celebrated her profession milestone with an evening out in New York Metropolis. On the time, Clark gushed over her boyfriend in a candy add through her Instagram Story.
“My fave particular person on the planet,” she captioned the April publish. (Clark and McCaffery went public with their romance in August 2023.)
Clark has damaged a number of data for the WNBA for the reason that begin of her season. In a July 6 recreation in opposition to the New York Liberty, Clark landed not solely the first triple-double of her profession however the first triple-double for a rookie within the WNBA. Final month, she broke the document for most rookie assists in a season whereas taking part in in opposition to the Seattle Storm, main the league with a mean of 8.3 assists per recreation.
“When you’d advised me I used to be going to steer the league in assists coming in right here in my rookie season, I in all probability would have advised you that you simply have been mendacity,” Clark stated throughout an August postgame interview, reported by ESPN. “However I take lots of satisfaction in that. I need to set my teammates up in the beginning as a result of that’s going that can assist you have essentially the most profitable workforce.”
Whereas Clark was named Rookie of the Yr, she completed fourth within the AP’s voting for WNBA Participant of the Yr, which was unanimously awarded to A’ja Wilson. “It means loads,” Wilson, 28, advised AP on Sunday. “The preparation you set in, the strategy I set myself up for this season.”
