The Indiana Fever have revealed footage from the exhilarating moment Caitlin Clark learned she was named the WNBA‘s Rookie of the Year.
Although the award wasn’t announced until Thursday, Clark learned she’d be winning the award at a Fever practice before the team’s playoff opener in Connecticut last week. The Fever would go on to be swept, 2-0, bringing their season to an end, but not until after the excitement over Clark’s first major WNBA award.
The moment begins with Fever coach Christie Sides receiving a call from Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, turning on the phone’s speaker, and extending her arm so the Indiana players could hear.
‘Do we have the team all together?’ Engelbert asked before wishing the Fever luck against the Connecticut Sun.
‘Is Caitlin Clark in the room,’ Engelbert asked.
Clark exhaled before stepping forward.
The Fever revealed footage from the exhilarating moment Caitlin Clark learned she was ROY
Teammates quickly swarmed Clark, who seemed to be expecting the WNBA honor
‘Caitlin, it feels like yesterday that I called your name to the stage as the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft, you held the Indiana Fever jersey for the first time, and what a record-breaking season for you and the entire team full of outstanding performances,’ Engelbert said.
At one point the Commissioner said she knows ‘the best is yet to come,’ which Clark immediately agreed with.
‘Facts,’ said the former Iowa star.
Engelbert continued, while making sure to include mention of a major WNBA sponsor.
‘You are the 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year,’ Engelbert concluded.
The news may have been expected, but Clark’s teammates were nonetheless overjoyed and began to swarm the 22-year-old rookie.
Later the Fever released footage of teammates congratulating Clark on X.
Clark said she had a ‘solid year,’ but stopped short of showering herself with praise
‘Hey, Caitlin, congrats on Rookie of the Year,’ teammate Lexie Hull said. ‘You earned this. I am so proud of you.’
‘Hi Caitlin,’ Aliyah Boston said. ‘Congrats on Rookie of the Year. I knew you could do it from the jump. Congratulations. No one deserves it more than you.’
The first pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark averaged 19.2 points and a league-best 8.4 assists per game while helping the WNBA set attendance records and garner mainstream attention. Most impressively, she guided the Fever to the playoffs after a 1-8 start.
Of course, Clark isn’t overly impressed.
‘I’m a tough grader,’ Clark said after being eliminated from the playoffs by Connecticut. ‘I feel like I had a solid year. For me, the fun part is like I feel like I’m just scratching the surface and I’m the one that’s nit picking every single thing I do. I know I want to help this franchise. … I know there’s a lot of room for me to continue to improve so that’s what excites me the most. I feel like I continue to get a lot better.’
