Ranking the top five WNBA rookie debuts, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink

Rickea Jackson and Aaliyah Edwards also had strong outings in their intro games

By Isabel Gonzalez May 16, 2024 at 7:00 am ET• 3 min read

The 2024 WNBA season features what is perhaps the most highly-anticipated rookie class in league history, and those young players finally got a chance to step on the court for their first official games this week. Expectations were high and, while there will naturally be some learning curves, the rookies embraced the moment. 

Out of the 36 players who heard their name called on draft night, only 13 of them made a roster. Not all of them have seen playing time yet, including two-time NCAA champion Kamilla Cardoso and former Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair -- the third leading scorer in the history of women's Division I basketball. Cardoso, who was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky, is out with a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Fair, a member of the two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, may have difficulty seeing regular minutes given how deep that squad is. 

Those who have played include the NCAA's all-time leading scorer and 2024 Naismith Player of the Year Caitlin Clark, 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Cameron Brink and 2023 national champion Angel Reese. The season is just a few days old, but we already have a lot to talk about. Here are the top five rookie debuts thus far:

1. Cameron Brink, Los Angeles Sparks 

Brink was off to a solid start against the Atlanta Dream, but foul trouble limited her playing time as she racked up five fouls in 20 minutes. Nevertheless, she was efficient and looked confident in her debut Wednesday night. Brink finished with 11 points going 3 of 6 from the field, including two 3-pointers. She also added two rebounds, four assists and, just like she did at Stanford, she showed off her defensive strength with two blocks. The Sparks lost, 81-92, but the future looks bright in Los Angeles with Brink as a part of the mix.