The Women’s National Basketball Association entered a much anticipated season this year. The sport just had one of its most exciting Most Valuable Player races ever, with forward Breanna Stewart taking home the hardware,and welcomed a new generation of talent to the league. Young sensations like Caitlin Clark,Angel Reese and Cameron Brink dominated the collegiate level and had been riding a wave of popularity, bringing a whole new set of eyes to the league. These bright stars seemed bound for the moon and they did not disappoint this season. Neither did those who dominated the league in the past. Fans were lucky enough to see one of the best single seasons by any basketball player in recent history courtesy of Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, to go along with a historic rookie class, and teams were as competitive as they’ve ever been. 

Clark and Reese have already become a mainstay in the league. Both have turned in exceptional rookie campaigns, and while Reese’s season ended early due to a wrist injury, there’s a case for both to take home the Rookie of the Year award. 

For Clark, her season has consisted of numerous rookie records. From assists to three-pointers to double and triple-doubles, it’s hard to find anything that the University of Iowa product has not accomplished. She’s been a dangerous scoring threat every night, knocking down shots that some would deem impossible. As of Sept. 18, Clark is averaging 19.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists, while leading into the playoff picture as the sixth seed. There’s no question why she’s leading the race with these historic rookie numbers, but Reese isn’t far off.

Reese’s injury might spell an end to her Rookie of the Year case, but it’s tough to look at her impact and say she’s done for good. The seventh overall pick was a force in the paint all season, dominating the glass on both ends of the floor and acting as a near unstoppable force when going up for a shot. This led to multiple records for rebounding, including the league record for consecutive double-doubles. With her regular season over, she finished her rookie year with 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds a contest. While her efficiency left some to be desired, she made up for it on defense and hustle plays, making her presence known every night. 

With all the media centered around the Clark and Reese rivalry, A’ja Wilson’s pure dominance may have gone under the radar. The two-time MVP has seemingly locked up her third trophy in her age 27 and it’s been her best one yet. Not only did she blow the league away in points per game at 27.3 a night, but she snatched the single season points record in the process, being the first WNBA player to reach 1,000 points in a single season. While the league was introduced to so much talent this past season, Wilson made sure she made a statement, adding another outstanding season to her resume. 

Now that the dust has settled on the 2024 season, eight teams look ahead at the playoffs. The New York Liberty’s return to the top of the Eastern Conference, but there’s a strong pack lurking behind them. The Minnesota Lynx earned the top spot in the Western Conference, and the Aces and Seattle Storm, who follow close behind, are also dangerous contenders. While the 2023 season seemed guaranteed to be a collision course ending between the Liberty and Aces, this year’s postseason is wide open, and fans are eager to see how it all plays out.