(Editor’s Note: This is Part 4 of a five-part series, featuring the top five rookie campaigns from each decade over the first 30 years of the WNBA)
As we continue our series of standout rookies with the 2020s, two words come to mind about this group:
The future.
While A’ja Wilson is still the most dominant player in the world, we’re enjoying one of the greatest eras in the history of the game, and we’re being introduced to the future stars of the WNBA.
Where we began seeing the evolution and development of the stretch four during the 2010s, we’re seeing greatness with backcourt standouts who can take over a game with no fear against anyone.
Instead of one or two faces of the league, the WNBA is entering a phase where the league is beginning to boast a broad collection of marketable stars.
The other thing this generation is providing to the league is an influx of college basketball fans, off the popularity of women’s college basketball, bringing millions of new viewers into the WNBA ecosystem.
And with expansion underway, more roster spots, deeper talent distribution, newer fan bases and more financial investment, we’re once again experiencing an outstanding decade of rookies.
Week 3: THE 2020s
Two names that won’t make it in this list and very well could have are Sabrina Ionescu (2020) and Olivia Miles (2026).
After Ionescu’s perfect senior season at Oregon was ruined by the pandemic, her rookie campaign with the New York Liberty started in the bubble on July 25 and ended eight days later with an ankle injury. She had a legitimate complaint that she wasn’t considered a rookie in her second season after playing two games her first year. One can only imagine what kind of rookie season she would have had.
With Miles, her season isn’t complete, so it’s hard to place her in the top five. Is Azzi Fudd going to come on late and overtake what Miles has done? It would be a long climb, not that she isn’t capable, but there is a lot of time left and it wouldn’t be totally out of the question.
That all said, here are the top five rookie campaigns of the 2020s thus far:
1. 2024 – CAITLIN CLARK, Indiana Fever
As we watched this phenomenon leave Iowa and come into the WNBA, the concern was, like Diana Taurasi said, “Could she handle the physicality?” Which, at first blush, seemed to be a big challenge. The one thing that everybody thought would translate from Iowa to the W was her court vision and ability to pass the basketball. With then-reigning Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston there to create an immediate connection, boy did she ever translate. There was a long-standing record since the league’s second year of existence of 226 assists in a single season set by Ticha Penicheiro, and not only did Clark best that assists record – she destroyed it. She eclipsed the assist number by 111. The new Caitlin Clark standard was 337, and it was mind-blowing. She finished with averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Fans found themselves watching not for the 3-point shooting, because it became too inconsistent, but rather her ability to find a teammate in a tight window. She may not be flashy with it like veteran Chelsea Gray, but to put the ball where it needs to be and lead your teammate toward the basket, Clark was flawless. She finished the season as an all-WNBA First Team selection, something very few rookies have ever achieved, while easily winning the Rookie of the Year award. Other accomplishments included the rookie record for points (769), rookie record for 3-pointers (122), becoming the first rookie in league history with multiple triple-doubles, establishing a single-game record of 19 assists and becoming the first rookie with a 30-point, 10-assist game.
NATIONAL CHAMPION → ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Paige Bueckers, everybody
pic.twitter.com/4S1ywzoCvO
— ESPN (@espn) September 16, 2025
2. 2025 – PAIGE BUECKERS, Dallas Wings
Bueckers stole the show during her rookie season because she looked less like a player adjusting to the WNBA and more like a seasoned star from opening night. She was indeed the full meal deal. The burger, the fries, the drink – and all the sauces for no charge. While averaging more than five assists per game, Bueckers balanced scoring with playmaking to make Dallas’ offense more organized and dangerous. She finished her rookie season averaging 19.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while shooting nearly 48 percent from the field.
She immediately understood exactly what she was supposed to do for herself to succeed, but not only that, for the first time since we watched Taurasi play, understood how to elevate everybody around her. She’s encouraging. She’s a cheerleader. She wants everybody to have as much success as she does. From the last woman on the bench to the trainer next to them, to the manager next to her – she makes everybody better. Her leadership qualities seemingly come from a genetic code that you cannot teach.
3. 2022 – RHYNE HOWARD, Atlanta Dream
Howard’s successful rookie season looked effortless because almost every part of her game translated seamlessly from Kentucky to the WNBA. The two-time SEC Player of the Year never appeared to be overwhelmed by the speed, physicality, or expectations that come with being the No. 1 overall pick. She embraced being the focal point, as Atlanta handed her the keys from day one, and she responded by averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Howard led all rookies in scoring, assists, steals, and minutes while starting every game for the Dream.
And three words came to mind when watching Howard in her rookie season: “Slick With It.” She was effortless. Sometimes you wondered if she was sweating. To this day, she still has a Rucker Park vibe to her, a skill set that reeks of skill no matter where she’s playing. The Dream’s blacktop look of their court is perfect for Howard, because that’s how she plays. Anytime, anywhere, roll the ball out, I will take your lunch money.
4. 2023 – ALIYAH BOSTON, Indiana Fever
Boston entered the WNBA with one of the most polished all-around skill sets a young post player has ever brought to the professional level. One of the most impressive bigs coming out of college, and we’ve had a string of them, she left school dictating how her game was going to translate. She didn’t buy into the fact that she couldn’t play back to the basket. She wasn’t listening to people say, “You have to shoot the 3. You have to shoot a 15-footer.” She did what she knew how to do best, and that’s play with her back to the basket. And she dominated with her back to the basket. Boston played with exceptional efficiency, averaging 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.25 blocks while leading the league in field-goal percentage (.578), becoming the first rookie ever to finish first in that category.
And, as we’ve seen her career unfold, she has integrated those other things into her game. But her ability to stand and believe in what she knew she could do best and have success with, changed the trajectory of other careers in the league. That was a very impressive piece of Boston at such a young age as a rookie to know what was gonna work, to trust what got her there and got that number one pick, and didn’t waver.
5. 2020 – CRYSTAL DANGERFIELD, Minnesota Lynx
An aptly named Dangerfield was a true danger for the opposition her rookie season because she combined elite quickness, fearlessness, and polished point guard play with an underdog mentality. The 5-foot-5 guard was very shifty and had a lot of wiggle in her game. She averaged 16.2 points and 3.6 assists, led the Minnesota Lynx in scoring, and helped guide the team to a 14-8 record and the No. 4 playoff seed. It was a shame the injury bug started to bite later on, because when she was on top of her game, she had really good court vision and could shoot the leather off the basketball. She could go on heaters that would make players wish they hadn’t come to the gym.
And though it’s conceivable the situation made it tough for her to meet the moment, since her rookie season was in the bubble, her situation was even tougher being handed the key to a Ferrari. There were many times it looked like the engine was getting stuck in third or fourth gear, or the clutch wasn’t smooth, or it could never find fifth. And though at times it got the best of her, she still had a tremendous first season, she still won Rookie of the Year.
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Senior Staff Writer at Ballislife.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
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