Top 10 Most Underrated Rookies in the 2024 WNBA Season

The rookie class of 2024 in the WNBA has been phenomenal as it gave away players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the WNBA community. It was a strong rookie class, and various hard-string players turned out to be potential future stars of the league. However, the presence of such a big star also shadowed the other rookies who got selected in the league this year. No wonder about the abilities of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, whose rivalry drew many fans toward the WNBA court and increased the game viewership.

But now Angel Reese is out of the scene due to her injury, and Caitlin Clark has already won the 2024 Kia Rookie Of The Year award. In such an ambiance, where these two basketball powerhouses have taken all the limelight, let us look at the rookies who went unnoticed under the umbrella of star players. Some wnba rookies have created history in the 2024 season, but some of them might create another if given proper guidance. Who are they? Let’s find out!

10. Leonie Fiebich

The German baller Leonie Fiebich surprisingly was drafted in the year 2020 by the Los Angeles Sparks as the Round 2 pick 22nd. However, she continued her endeavors overseas to hone her basketball skills. Eventually, after gaining a certain level of experience in international basketball and in Europe, she decided to move toward the WNBA league this year to go pro in America. This time, she signed with New York Liberty for a rookie scale contract.

Although there was not much hype around her as she just averaged 6.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, she was part of the WNBA title winner New York Liberty team. She has been an impact player in comparison to other counterparts from the league amid the injury-prone New York Liberty team. Also, she has a much better three-point percentage than Caitlin Clark, which is recorded at 42.9% in the league. On the other hand, Clark has just 34.4% beyond the arc shooting percentage as per ESPN.

9. Rickea Jackson

Hailing from Tennessee College, Rickea Jackson went completely unnoticed by the viewers as well as the WNBA community. It was ironic since she was the overall fourth pick from the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft class, much better than Angel Reese’s pick. The Los Angeles Sparks saw potential in her and picked up the 6’2″ forward in hopes of a star. And she did not let them down. She averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, justifying her role as a forward for the WNBA team, that’s also in her rookie season.

It might be safe to assume that despite being a top pick, Rickea Jackson is riping fruits of Los Angeles’ Sparks bad performance in the league last season. Though she dished out 19 and 23 points, respectively, against the New York Liberty and Dallas Wings, her defensive RAPTOR was not high. Eventually, that affected her fame as an impact player.

Also Read: Top 5 Highest Paid WNBA Players in 2024

8. Julie Vanloo

Mostly, the WNBA rookies have an average age of around 22 or 23 years of age, and it is 20 for international players. However, no one thought that someone as old as in her early 40s would come as a rookie in the WNBA league. Julie Vanloo, aged 31 years old, has become the oldest rookie in the 2024 WNBA season. She has been a debutante for pro basketball on paper since she has been already playing for various international leagues and the Belgian National team for a long time on the hard court.

Hailing from Iowa University, Julie averaged 7.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this season. Surprisingly, she made a smooth transition into the league and gave a foundation to the Mystics last season, even though they could not make it to the playoffs. Vanloo’s potential as a rookie can be evident from the fact that she broke the franchise record for the highest number of three-pointers as a rookie in just 24 games.

7. Cameron Brink

Just after Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink was the top prospect in the league. However, the luck was not on her side as she suffered a torn ACL just playing 15 games after her debut. It was a season-ending injury, but the Los Angeles Sparks forward has assured the fans that it’s not “goodbye basketball but just a see you later” phase, as per NBC Los Angeles. During the time that Stanford alumni played with the Sparks on the court, she averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

Though she has yet to prove her mettle at the WNBA, Cameron Brink is a national championship ring winner at the Collegiate level. Her college excellence on the court and promising performance on the court was the reason that the league put her up high on the draft chart. Hoping for a sooner recovery, she might make a comeback in the 2025 season of the WNBA.

6. Aaliyah Edwards

Hailing from UConn College, Aaliyah Edwards had a tough pre-season as she got a broken nose for herself. Yet she was able to consistently deliver on the court and emerged to be a unanimous All-BIG EAST and WBCA All-American in 2024. That’s why the Washington Mystics picked her up for their sixth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft class. In the league as a forward, she averaged 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Though it was not much in comparison to the rookie stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, she had a fair season overall.

5. Jaelyn Brown

Jaelyn Brown, the 26 year old guard might sound like a rookie for the WNBA newcomers but she is not. She is not even drafted and has signed a training camp contract with the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. Due to her impressive performance during the tryouts, the team management decided to try her out on the court among the WNBA pros. However, she could not be consistent as a rookie as she could not play more than 14 games due to her nasal fracture and illness that she is suffering from time to time.

In the games that she played in the league, she dished out 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists. These stats do not even belong to the elite class of WNBA, even as a rookie. However, had she been more consistent, the equation might have been different with her international experience.

4. Kamilla Cardoso

The injury has been a significant concern for the rookies last season despite promising talents from the Draft lot. Kamilla Cardoso was the overall third pick from the 2024 Draft class in round 1. Chicago Sky picked her up with the hopes of a rejuvenation in the league. However, her shoulder injury in her rookie season delayed her debut on the court, along with her playing time. She could not enjoy as much time on the court as her fellow ballers on the court.

Ultimately, she could only average 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. However, once she recovers from the injury, the sky is the limit for the former University of South Carolina center. Her 6’7″ stature will be an asset in upcoming times as well as her 52.1% field goal accuracy that is much better than Caitlin or Angel Reese’s performance from the floor.

3. Kate Martin

More than a powerhouse player, Kate Martin has established herself as an impact player in the WNBA in her rookie season. She did not rack up astonishing numbers on the board, as he only dished out 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.2 assists on the court. But she just got 11.5 minutes of playing time on average in 34 games. Even on such a tight time on the court, she managed to maintain her field goal percentage at 30.7 and beyond the arc shooting percentage at 35.5.

It denotes her prowess to keep the scoreboard rotating in the absence of starting five on the court. As she moves ahead in the league moving onwards, she might appear to be the ones who bring teams together for championships through their role-centered skills on the court. Hailing from Iowa Tech, Las Vegas Aces picked her as the 18th overall pick in Round 2 of the 2024 WNBA Draft class.

2. Charisma Osborne

Charisma Osborne was not much of a great start for the Phoenix Mercury as she was a third-round 25th pick for them. However, the injury even shadowed the rest of the chances that Osborne had to showcase on the court. Due to a lower leg injury, she only got to play two games and averaged 1 point, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists on the court. It was almost negligible, and that’s why the Mercury waived her on May 11, 2024. The 5’9″ guard belongs to UCLA College before coming to the WNBA.

But a month later, after the draft, the Phoenix Mercury decided to support the potential athlete, signing her again on June 13, 2024, with the hopes of a greater comeback in the future.

1. Jacy Sheldon

The fifth overall pick from the 2024 WNBA Draft Class, Jacy Sheldon, has been average in her rookie season. The 5’10” guard from Ohio State University averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She could have made it to the playoffs with the Dallas Wings. However, the injuries of star players like Satou and Natasha, along with the poor court performance, hinged her postseason dreams. But she got to play all 40 games during the regular season.

She was the overall fifth pick for the Dallas Wings in round one, though she has not delivered an outstanding performance yet as per her top pick. It is coming although she got about 23.3 minutes of average playing time on the court.

Why These Rookies Deserve More Attention

The aforementioned rookies might have gone unnoticed due to the star power of some rookies, but they also matter on big occasions. For example, the championships are won by teams, not any individual. So, they might be an excellent impact player or substitute player when the first string is on the bench to take a rest or in case of an injury. Coming to each individual underrated rookie, here’s how these players can impact their teams:

• Leonie Fiebich: She is an excellent sharpshooter from the New York Liberty and can add depth to her performance with her experience in international basketball. She was one of the reasons that Liberty won the WNBA Finals in 2024.
• Rickea Jackson: Rickea being a young player, needs guidance to blossom in already bruised Los Angeles Sparks. If it does not work out, she might need another team to become an all-round player.
• Julie Vanloo: Julie Vanloo will soon establish herself as an on-court leader for the Washington Mystics, keeping them calm in clutch situations.
• Cameron Brink: After recovering from her injury, Brink has the potential to be an all-around player for the Los Angeles Sparks, just like Caitlin or Angel Reese. But she just needs to be fit to stand up to the expectations.
• Aaliyah Edwards: Aaliyah Edwards could not stand well to the expectations despite being the sixth overall pick. It might be the anxiety for her first season, and she can deliver better, especially with her rough and tough persona.
• Jaelyn Brown: She needs to be consistent on the court and fitness, especially with her pro basketball experience. She can be a great asset to the Dallas Wings in the future.
• Kamilla Cardoso: She carried high expectations as the third overall pick and still has the potential to outperform any other rookie with her size and scoring while representing the Chicago Sky.
• Kate Martin: She is an impact player, and the Las Vegas Aces coaching department should use her wisely.
• Charisma Osborne: The Phoenix Mercury did not get high hopes from the league. But she managed to get a ray of hope from the Phoenix Mercury coaching department. If everything goes right, she might secure a long-term deal as a winger.
• Jacy Sheldon: Jacy Sheldon has been consistent, but she has not delivered a big game for the Dallas Wings yet. Her average persona must elevate itself to gain the attention of the league, like the top Rookies of the WNBA.

Conclusion: The Hidden Stars of the 2024 WNBA Season

For the 2024 season, The female basketball community got a fair percentage of talented individuals in the league, but half of them succumbed to injuries while playing. Though they could not stand up to their pre-draft expectations, it is not a dead end yet. As their experience grows, we might witness them turning into defensive walls and on-court snipers. Some of the necessary skills that rookies need to make an impact on the league as well as the WNBA community.

Although there are chances that some of them might not stand up to the expectations but the potential still exists there. If something falls out of place, it might take some time, but the basketball prodigies do bloom out sooner or later. What do you think will turn out to be the best in the upcoming season out of these rookies?