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WNBA rookie report cards: How Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and more stack up with the W on its Olympics break
With the Olympics kicking off this week, the WNBA is on a break through August 14.
But while the W is on pause, there's no better time to assess how some of the league's top rookies have performed thus far.
First-year players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have adapted rather seamlessly and were named All-Stars, while there have been other impressive performers as well.
With the WNBA regular season a little past its halfway point, here is how six notable rookies have graded out in the eyes of Mail Sport.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
The No. 1 overall pick after a record-setting college career at Iowa, Clark has quickly established herself as one of the best pro players as well.
The 22-year-old is 13th in the league with 17.1 points per game - the best mark among rookies - and just as notably is the W's assist leader, with 8.2 per contest.
Caitlin Clark has had an extremely impressive start to life in the WNBA with the Fever
Clark has immediately taken on a leading role in the Fever's offense, and with her help, the team has clawed its way to an 11-15 record after a 2-9 start.
If we're to nitpick a little, we'd point to the fact that Clark is not putting up her impressive numbers with the greatest efficiency.
She's coughing up 5.6 turnovers per game and shooting just 32.7 percent from three on more than eight attempts per game - though her overall field goal clip has ticked up each month of the season.
Like any rookie, Clark has room for improvement, but her starting point is much, much higher than most.
Grade: A-
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Like Clark, Reese entered the W with a massive spotlight on her and she has done well so far.
The Chicago Sky forward has been an absolute force on the boards, setting a WNBA record for double-doubles with 15 and leading the league in rebounds per game with 11.9.
Notably, she was also the leading rebounder when the WNBA All-Stars faced off with (and beat) the USA Olympic squad.
Angel Reese set a WNBA record with 15 straight double-doubles for the Chicago Sky
Despite averaging 13.5 points per contest, Reese has lacked touch around the rim for someone her size.
She's converting just 40.2 percent of her field goals despite spending most of her time around the rim.
Still, she's proven to be a defensive difference maker and it's been a positive start thus far.
Grade: B+
Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks
Jackson is the third-leading scorer (11.4 points per game) among rookies and has been a consistent starter for the Sparks after they selected her fourth overall.
She's also been more efficient than Clark and Reese, as she's shot an impressive 45.0 percent from the field to start her pro career.
Still, the Sparks have a woeful 6-18 record, and the team has actually been 3.5 points better per 100 possessions without her on the court, according to stats from Basketball Reference.
Jackson is already a capable scorer, but it's fair to at least wonder if she's a winning player at this point.
Grade: a strong B
Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky
Cardoso has been a sort of a Reese-lite on the same team as the ex-LSU star, at least statistically.
The Brazilian-born center is averaging 8.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, though she's missed six of 24 games with a shoulder injury.
She's also averaged 1.1 blocks per night as an anchor for a Chicago team (10-14) currently just in the playoffs as things stand.
Kamilla Cardoso has flirted with a double-double each night while playing with Reese
And while she's shot the ball more efficiently than Reese (46.2 percent from the field), she's also been less involved, as she's taking just over seven shots per night.
She's also scored in single figures in more than half of her games.
Cardoso has shown promise, but the next step is to expand her offensive game.
Grade: B
Aaliyah Edwards, Washington Mystics
Edwards hasn't been an every-night starter for the Mystics, but she's still playing a healthy 22.4 minutes per game and is impressing with that time.
Only Clark, Reese and Jackson are scoring more than her in terms of rookies, as Edwards is averaging an extremely efficient 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds on 49 percent shooting.
She's also added 1.5 'stocks' (steals and blocks combined) per night.
At the same time, the Mystics (who are even worse than the Sparks at 6-19) have been 7.1 points better without her on the court over 100 possessions.
Edwards has done some nice things, but we just want to see more of it.
Grade B-
Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks
It's hard to give Brink a fair grade, given that she played just 15 games before tearing her ACL.
On the other hand, that figure is only three fewer than Cardoso, and she's worth mentioning as the second overall pick.
Before her injury, Brink proved herself to be a tremendous shot-blocker and limited scorer.
Cameron Brink showed major promise on the defensive end before her season was cut short
Her 2.3 blocks per contest were far and away the most in the league, though she was scoring a modest 7.5 points on sub 40-percent shooting.
On the other hand, she showed some competence as a perimeter shooter, making 32.3 percent from three (not bad for a post player) and 84 percent of her free throw attempts.
The sample size from Brink's rookie season is - and will remain - small - but her defensive prowess is certainly something to build on.
Grade: B-