Caitlin Clark is already one of the most recognizable players in the WNBA. The college hoops star and No. 1 overall pick of the Indiana Fever is currently a massive betting favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year. And while the hype is much deserved, there are reasons to fade this market at the current price.
If you are looking to make futures bets on Caitlin Clark before the Fever tip off tonight against Connecticut, there are some other excellent wagers to make that provide significantly better value. Let's take a look at the history of WNBA Rookie of the Year winners and why Clark will likely win the award even if she is not a good value bet.
More: Indiana Fever projected wins | Caitlin Clark prop odds, best bets for WNBA season opener and Rookie of the Year
WNBA Rookie of the Year winners
First-overall picks have often dominated the Rookie of the Year in the WNBA. The first overall pick in the WNBA draft has won Rookie of the Year 14 out of 26 years since the award started in 1998.
Season | Player | Team | Draft Position |
1998 | Tracy Reid | Charlotte Sting | 7 |
1999 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Washington Mystics | 1 |
2000 | Betty Lennox | Minnesota Lynx | 6 |
2001 | Jackie Stiles | Portland Fire | 4 |
2002 | Tamika Catchings | Indiana Fever | 3 |
2003 | Cheryl Ford | Detroit Shock | 3 |
2004 | Diana Taurasi | Phoenix Mercury | 1 |
2005 | Temeka Johnson | Washington Mystics | 6 |
2006 | Seimone Augustus | Minnesota Lynx | 1 |
2007 | Armintie Price | Chicago Sky | 3 |
2008 | Candace Parker | Los Angeles Sparks | 1 |
2009 | Angel McCoughtry | Atlanta Dream | 1 |
2010 | Tina Charles | Connecticut Sun | 1 |
2011 | Maya Moore | Minnesota Lynx | 1 |
2012 | Nneka Ogwumike | Los Angeles Sparks | 1 |
2013 | Elena Delle Donne | Chicago Sky | 2 |
2014 | Chiney Ogwumike | Connecticut Sun | 1 |
2015 | Jewell Loyd | Seattle Storm | 1 |
2016 | Breanna Stewart | Seattle Storm | 1 |
2017 | Allisha Gray | Dallas Wings | 4 |
2018 | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces | 1 |
2019 | Napheesa Collier | Minnesota Lynx | 6 |
2020 | Crystal Dangerfield | Minnesota Lynx | 16 |
2021 | Michaela Onyenwere | New York Liberty | 6 |
2022 | Rhyne Howard | Atlanta Dream | 1 |
2023 | Aliyah Boston | Indiana Fever | 1 |
WNBA Rookie of the Year fast facts
- Two Rookie of the Year winners have also won the WNBA championship: Cheryl Ford in 2003 and Maya Moore in 2011.
- Sixteen of the 26 WNBA Rookie of the Year winners are still active WNBA players.
- No. 1 picks have won the award the past two seasons: Rhyne Howard in 2022 and Aliyah Boston in 2023.
- Only one player picked outside of the top 10 has won the award: Crystal Dangerfield, the 16th pick in 2020.
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Why to fade Caitlin Clark winning WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2024
Betting Caitlin Clark to win Rookie of the Year at -700 is asking bettors to tie up too much money for a relatively small payout. While Clark is likely to win the award, she will need to get through her first 40-game WNBA season without missing much, if any, time to injury.
Clark played in all of Iowa's 77 games over the past two seasons, leading the team to back-to-back national title games. If she plays in all 40 WNBA games this year, she'll be pushing 80 combined games during the 2023-24 season between college and pro.
While Clark has never been injury-prone, these things happen. Still, there are other Caitlin Clark betting markets worth considering ahead of the 2024 WNBA season.
Best value Caitlin Clark futures & prop bets for the 2024 WNBA season
Here are two Caitlin Clark season-long prop bets to consider for the 2024 WNBA season.
Caitlin Clark 6.3 assists per game 2024 WNBA regular season: OVER (-110) DraftKings
Clark is often viewed as a pure scorer, and she had to do a lot of scoring at Iowa to carry the Hawkeyes. But Clark was also the game's best distributor, averaging 8.9 assists per game last season. In the more challenging environment of the WNBA, opposing teams are going to key on Clark every single night.
She a very unselfish player. If teams are going to focus a lot of defensive attention on her, she will happily distribute the ball to her teammates for easy buckets. Clark also has some really solid contributors with her on the Fever. Aliyah Boston won the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, and the team brings back its leading scorer from last season, Kelsey Mitchell (18.2 PPG).
Caitlin Clark to record 3+ triple-doubles in the 2024 WNBA regular season: +190 FanDuel
Clark had six triple-doubles in her last college basketball season in 39 games. She can get at least three triple-doubles with 40 WNBA games in the regular season. Clark will score in double-digits most nights, and her fast-paced game should translate well considering the talent on the Fever roster. Clark also averaged 7.4 rebounds per night in her last season at Iowa — it seems likely she can get at least three triple-doubles if she plays all 40 games. With odds at +190, there is substantial value in the wager.
Caitlin Clark best bet: To win 2024 WNBA MVP: +1200 DraftKings
It is rare for a rookie to win MVP in any sports league, but it has happened in the WNBA once before. Candace Parker did it in 2008, and Clark is poised to step into a crucial role on a talented team. Her numbers should be impressive, even in Year 1.
Clark will get plenty of air time this season, too, meaning voters will be well aware of her big nights and how much the Fever improve thanks to her. Plus, 10 of the Fever's 40 games are scheduled to be on national TV. She is a huge part of the WNBA's next phase of growth and will draw MVP votes if she produces at the high-end of her potential as a rookie.
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