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A’ja Wilson had a season like none other in WNBA history. Caitlin Clark set records and made the Indiana Fever the biggest draw in the women’s game. Angel Reese rebounded like nobody the league has ever seen.
The WNBA regular season is over. And the stat sheets were filled like never before.
Lots of records — most points, most rebounds, most assists, even most people at a game — fell during the WNBA’s 28th regular season. Wilson, Clark, and Reese were in the middle of many of those moments.
Here’s a look at some big numbers from the season:
A’ja Wilson: Will it be u’nanimous?
Wilson did things this season that have never been done in the WNBA. (And never been officially done in the NBA, either.)
Most points in a season, most rebounds in a season and most blocked shots in a season. That’s never happened by one player in one year, until now. The Las Vegas star set WNBA records with 1,021 points and 451 rebounds, plus led the league in blocks with 98.
Another record for Wilson: points per game with 26.9, breaking Diana Taurasi’s mark of 25.3 that stood since 2006. WNBA teams didn’t always play 40-game seasons, so 1,000 points wasn’t even a remote possibility in the days of shorter schedules. The scoring-average record takes away any debate about where Wilson’s 2024 season should rank.
It seems certain that she’s going to be MVP for a record-tying third time. The only real question is whether she gets all the votes. “U’nanimous,” Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo said on social media last week, and it didn’t need any explaining.
Caitlin Clark: Rookie numbers stand alone
Clark broke the WNBA single-game record for assists with 19, broke the season record for assists with 337, and finished her rookie Indiana season with a resume of averages beyond compare.
Others have scored more, rebounded more and one player — Courtney Vandersloot — has averaged more assists in a season. But nobody in WNBA history ever averaged as much in all three categories as Clark this season: 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.
There have been only four other instances of a player averaging 15-5-5 in the WNBA. Clark is the first in the 19-5-8 club.
Clark also had 12 games of at least 10 points and 10 assists, another single-season record. Only eight players in WNBA history have more such games in their entire careers.
Clark also had two triple-doubles in her rookie season. No other rookie in WNBA history has ever had one. And her 122 3-pointers — the second-most by anyone in any WNBA season — was another rookie record.
Angel Reese: A rebounding machine
Reese would have set the WNBA record for rebounds in a season had she not missed Chicago’s final six games, citing a wrist injury. (She had the record briefly with 446, before Wilson caught her toward the end of the regular season.)
The rebounds-per-game record is hers though: 13.1, which is 10% higher than the previous mark of 11.9 set by Sylvia Fowles in 2018.
Reese’s 26 double-doubles were another rookie record; Tina Charles had 22 (in a 34-game season) in 2010. There were six instances in the WNBA this season of someone grabbing 18 or more rebounds; Reese had five of them.
Another big number: Ticket sales
Last season, 227,979 tickets were sold for Indiana Fever games. This season, the number was 643,343.
That’s an 182% jump. That’s Caitlinmania.
WNBA attendance soared to a level not seen since the late 1990s this season, with around 9,800 tickets distributed on average for each game. That’s up nearly 44% from last season, and the huge increase in Fever tickets accounts for the overwhelming majority of that leaguewide growth.
The Fever destroyed the previous WNBA record for average attendance; 16,084 tickets, on average, were sold for Indiana games (both home and away) this season, way ahead of the previous mark of 13,398 set by the 1998 New York Liberty.
And Thursday, as the season closed, Clark was involved in another record: 20,711 attended Indiana’s game at the Washington Mystics, a WNBA all-time regular season mark.
Where she went, fans followed: There were 37 games this season that drew crowds of 16,000 or more, and 32 of them were Indiana games.
Notables: A few stats that stood out
— Atlanta’s Tina Charles became the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds (4,014) and double-doubles (194), getting those marks with a 10-point, 10-rebound effort Thursday as the regular season ended. She passed Sylvia Fowles on both of those lists.
— Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale was already the league’s record-holder for minutes in a season (1,493 in 2023), and this year she broke the record for minutes per game that Katie Smith held since 2001. Ogunbowale — who also tied the WNBA single-game record for 3-pointers with nine against Indiana on Sept. 1 — averaged 38.58 minutes; Smith’s record was 38.56. If Ogunbowale played one fewer minute this season, Smith would still hold the mark.
— Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier had eight steals in a game against Los Angeles on June 14. The last time a WNBA player had more steals in a game? July 10, 2003, when Ticha Penichiero had a league-record 10 for Sacramento.
If baseball fans are lucky, Shohei Ohtani’s greatness in the batter’s box and maybe even on the pitching mound could be on display for at least another decade.
But in the minds of many, the 30-year-old is already on the shortlist of the sport’s all-time legends.
The Japanese superstar added to his absurd feats on Thursday, becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to have 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in one season. He grandly hit both marks, with his first three-homer game, his first six-hit game, and a franchise and career-record 10 RBIs in Miami.
“There’s definitely arguments that could be made that he’s better than Babe Ruth,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo said Friday. “Everybody always talks about Babe Ruth and him being one of the greatest baseball players, if not (the greatest) of all time.
“I think we’re playing with the modern-day Babe Ruth here.”
Ohtani is only in his eighth big-league season after playing five years in Japan, but it’s fair to wonder if he’s already cemented a plaque in Cooperstown.
He’s the overwhelming favorite to win his third Most Valuable Player award this season, according to BetMGM.
“I feel like his pace, I feel like his potential, it’s looking to be one of the best (careers) ever,” Astros outfielder Jason Heyward said. “Of course, we all know as players that he has to continue to play and finish out his career, but I feel like he has the potential to do so many more special things and create numbers that, you know, we’ll look back home one day and say we don’t know if anyone will get to those.”
Ohtani could add to his legend in the coming weeks when he makes his postseason debut. His Los Angeles Dodgers qualified for October baseball with Thursday’s win and will be among the favorites to win the World Series. There’s even the slim chance he could return to the mound during the postseason after elbow surgery during the offseason.
“We leave it to other people to decide who the all-time greats are, but it’s undeniable that what we’re watching is incredibly special,” said Josh Rawitch, the president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “People are excited about what they’re seeing and that’s very understandable.”
It was about this time last season that Ohtani’s career hit a major speed bump. The two-way star was having a phenomenal season for the Los Angeles Angels at the plate and on the mound when he suffered a torn ligament in his pitching elbow on Aug. 23. That led to the second major surgery on his pitching elbow.
But the free-spending Dodgers were undeterred by the injury in free agency, snagging Ohtani on a $700 million, 10-year deal that was by far the richest in MLB history.
It’s safe to say he’s been worth it so far.
Able to focus solely on hitting, Ohtani has produced arguably his best offensive season. He’s batting .294 with 51 homers and 120 RBIs while stealing 51 bases and only getting caught four times.
Some like Angels manager Ron Washington and Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck said they would reserve judgment on Ohtani’s Cooperstown credentials until his career is over. But there’s little doubt he’s trending the correct way.
“I like to see the full career,” Houck said. “But the milestones that he has so far, and a historical season like right now, he’s definitely the top player in the game right now.”
Said Washington: “Let’s let his career develop and we’ll see where his numbers are. Certainly, if he stays healthy and he’s able to play for the length of how long he wants to play, he will be someone that definitely will be considered for the Hall of Fame.”
Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker competes with Ohtani in the NL West and said it’s easy to respect a guy who works so hard.
“He seems like he goes about his business the right way,” Walker said. “And in the spotlight that he is, that’s equally impressive, to maintain a level head and continue to execute at the level he’s expected to execute at. Huge market. Huge spotlight. And to come out and be as consistent as he is, it’s impressive.”
Astros pitcher Yusei Kikuchi — who is also Japanese — said Ohtani has already cemented himself as one of the best.
“He’s probably about to win his third MVP and he’s been doing things that no other player has done, being a two-way player and accomplishing the 50/50,” Kikuchi said through an interpreter. “So it’s hard for me to judge, but I think he probably qualifies for the Hall of Fame.”
For the baseball fans who enjoy advanced stats, Ohtani is already up to 42.3 WAR for his career, according to baseball-reference.com, which isn’t a crazy number. Most players in the Hall of Fame have at least 50-60 WAR.
But the uniqueness of Ohtani’s career — particularly his status as probably the best two-way player of all time — means he could put down his bat and glove today and likely breeze into the Hall.
“It’s hard to say no,” Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski said. “I know it’s so early. I think he can have average years for the rest of his career, and he’s a Hall of Famer. … He’s probably going to win the MVP, and to win MVP as a DH, that used to be unheard of, so it’s incredible.”
Rawitch said Ohtani has been “unbelievably generous” with his contributions to the Hall of Fame over the years and has a great understanding of the game’s history. The Hall’s upcoming major exhibit debuts next summer and it’s called “Yakyu/Baseball,” exploring the intertwined baseball history of Japan and the U.S.
It’ll focus on Japanese greats like Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, and Hideo Nomo, while also looking at American players who have played in Japan.
And, of course, there will be plenty about Ohtani, one of the greatest in either country.
“This guy is transcending the game,” Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He’s special. He’s going to go down as one of the best players of all time and he’s not pitching this year. What Shohei has done for the game is remarkable and exciting. We need things like that.”
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever's top WNBA draft pick, is making waves both on and off the court. Widely regarded as the best player of her generation, Clark holds numerous records, including the all-time NCAA scoring title. Her competitive nature and half-court shots have made her a fan favorite.
Clark signed a multiyear deal with Wilson Sporting Goods, becoming the first female athlete to have her own collection. She also has high-profile NIL deals with Nike, Gatorade, Bose, and more. Her rookie contract with the Fever is worth $338,000 over four years. Clark's estimated NIL valuation is $3.5 million.
Now, Caitlin isn't just breaking records on the court-she's making history off it too. Her autographed WNBA draft rookie card just sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $84,000, making it the most expensive women's sports card ever sold.
The card, a Panini Instant one-of-one, features Clark proudly holding up her Indiana Fever jersey on stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music right after she was selected as the No. 1 draft pick. And to make it even more special, Clark personally signed the card, with Panini America guaranteeing its authenticity.
Caitlin's $84k rookie card sale marks a historic milestone
This wasn't just any auction either. The bidding for Clark's rookie card was fierce, with 79 bids placed before it finally sold for that record-breaking $84K. It's a huge moment, not only for Clark but for women's sports collectibles as a whole.
And the excitement doesn't stop there. Goldin Auctions is currently selling another set of WNBA Draft night cards featuring both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, another rising star in women's basketball. The Reese and Clark cards graded a perfect 10 in mint condition, are expected to fetch an even higher price than Clark's solo card. So, who knows, this $84K record might not hold for long.
Caitlin Clark's star power has been undeniable for a while now, and this latest milestone just adds to her growing legend. Whether she's setting records on the basketball court or making waves in the auction world, Clark is proving she's a force to be reckoned with in every aspect.
As the buzz around her continues to grow, it's clear that Caitlin Clark is not only redefining what it means to be a top athlete but also setting new standards in women's sports memorabilia.
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever's top WNBA draft pick, is making waves both on and off the court. Widely regarded as the best player of her generation, Clark holds numerous records, including the all-time NCAA scoring title. Her competitive nature and half-court shots have made her a fan favorite.
Clark signed a multiyear deal with Wilson Sporting Goods, becoming the first female athlete to have her own collection. She also has high-profile NIL deals with Nike, Gatorade, Bose, and more. Her rookie contract with the Fever is worth $338,000 over four years. Clark's estimated NIL valuation is $3.5 million.
Caitlin Clark comments on how it feels to be among the players up for MVP awardNow, Caitlin isn't just breaking records on the court-she's making history off it too. Her autographed WNBA draft rookie card just sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $84,000, making it the most expensive women's sports card ever sold.
The card, a Panini Instant one-of-one, features Clark proudly holding up her Indiana Fever jersey on stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music right after she was selected as the No. 1 draft pick. And to make it even more special, Clark personally signed the card, with Panini America guaranteeing its authenticity.
Caitlin's $84k rookie card sale marks historic milestone
This wasn't just any auction either. The bidding for Clark's rookie card was fierce, with 79 bids placed before it finally sold for that record-breaking $84K. It's a huge moment, not only for Clark but for women's sports collectibles as a whole.
And the excitement doesn't stop there. Goldin Auctions is currently selling another set of WNBA Draft night cards featuring both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, another rising star in women's basketball. The Reese and Clark cards, graded a perfect 10 in mint condition, are expected to fetch an even higher price than Clark's solo card. So, who knows, this $84K record might not hold for long.
Caitlin Clark's star power has been undeniable for a while now, and this latest milestone just adds to her growing legend. Whether she's setting records on the basketball court or making waves in the auction world, Clark is proving she's a force to be reckoned with in every aspect.
As the buzz around her continues to grow, it's clear that Caitlin Clark is not only redefining what it means to be a top athlete but also setting new standards in women's sports memorabilia.