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Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier Win WNBA Rookie, Defensive Player of the Year Awards

The WNBA appears set to honor the Fever guard and Lynx forward.

Patrick Andres

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) rushes up the court Friday, July 12, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 95-86.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) rushes up the court Friday, July 12, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 95-86. / Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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With the WNBA playoffs heating up, the league's selections for its Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards are reportedly in.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been named the league's Rookie of the Year and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has been named its Defensive Player of the Year, according to a Friday afternoon report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Clark would be the third Fever player to win her award, joining forward Tamika Catchings in 2002 and forward and center Aliyah Boston in '23. Collier would be the Lynx's third Defensive Player of the Year, joining center Sylvia Fowles in 2016 and '21.

Both players have left significant marks on the WNBA this season. Clark—one of the most discussed North American athletes of the year—averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game this year.

Collier, for her part, averaged 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game to go with her 20.4 scoring average. Her Minnesota squad remains alive in the playoffs, and will meet the Connecticut Sun Sunday in Game 1 of the league semifinals.

Clark and Collier finished fourth and second in the league's MVP voting, respectively; that award was won unanimously by Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson on Sunday.

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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

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