Kaitlyn Clark has been named WNBA Rookie of the Year, ending a season-long controversy

“I'm incredibly honored to be named Rookie of the Year, but more importantly, I'm grateful to everyone who has supported me this past season — my family and friends, my teammates, the Fever organization and everyone who's cheered us on all season,” Clark said in a statement. said. “I'm very proud of what we've accomplished and I'm very excited for what the future holds.”

Clarke and Reese were also named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team, along with Chicago Sky center Camila Cardoso, New York Liberty forward Leonie Fibich and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickia Jackson.

Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game in 40 appearances as a rookie, leading the WNBA in assists while setting rookie records for points and three-pointers. She also led the league in All-Star voting, finished fourth in MVP voting, earned first-team All-WNBA honors and guided the Fever to its first playoff appearance since 2016, all while recording record television viewership, attendance figures and time of sale of goods.

The 2024 No. 1 pick became the third Fever player to win Rookie of the Year, joining teammate Aaliyah Boston (2023) and Hall of Fame guard Tamika Catchings (2002). Clark claimed the third consecutive No. 1 overall award after Boston and Atlanta Dream guard Rhian Howard (2022).

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert broke the news to Clarke during the Fever's first-round playoff series against the Connecticut Sun.

“Kaitlin, it seems like just yesterday when I called your name on stage as the number one pick in this year's draft,” Engelbert said by telephone. “You hold the Indiana Fever jersey for the first time. What a record-breaking season for you and the entire team full of outstanding performances. I know all your hard work and dedication paid off with your playoffs [appearance]. I know the best is yet to come. Congratulations, Caitlin.”

Clark and Reese, who faced off in the 2023 NCAA National Championship Game and the 2024 Elite Eight, were portrayed as prize rivals by television talking heads and social media users for much of the season. While Clark was a two-time Naismith Award winner, Reese's LSU Tigers defeated Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes for the 2023 championship in a matchup that cemented both players as household names. The following year, Iowa defeated LSU en route to its second straight appearance in the national championship game.

Reese, 22, averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, and he registered a league-best 26 double-doubles in his 34 appearances, including a record 15 in a row. After earning All-Star honors and setting a rookie record for total rebounds, the 2024 No. 7 pick suffered a wrist injury that kept him out of Chicago's final six games. Meanwhile, Sky have crashed out of the playoffs, losing 12 of their last 14 games.

Clarke and sixth-seeded Fever were knocked out in the first round by third-seeded Suns.