NOTES: WNBA rookie class living up to its billing

Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin made quite a splash in her WNBA debut on Saturday, May 18 against the Los Angeles Sparks. Here she scores the first points of her career, a corner 3-pointer over veteran forward - and former Ace - Dearica Hamby.

PHOTO: EthanMiller/Getty Images via Las Vegas Aces

By W.G. RAMIREZ

It was billed as the best rookie class we've seen in many years.

It's lived up to its billing.

From No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark to her former Iowa teammate and second-round selection Kate Martin, the first-year contingent has, in a word, slayed.

"They are special," Connecticut coach Stephanie White said. "They're special in a number of ways. And look, the way that this game is going, players every year, they're better, they're more versatile, they're more confident, they've been through the wringer. And this class, in particular - a lot of star power."

Through Tuesday, there were 16 rookies on the league's official stats page, with two of them averaging double-digit scoring, and several others turning in impressive role play on their respective teams.

Through her first four games - played over seven grueling days - Clark was averaging 17.0 points per game for the Indiana Fever ahead of a three-game road trip that will take her through Seattle, Los Angeles and Las Vegas over four days. Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese was averaging 11.5 ppg. and 8.5 rebounds after her first two games, and Los Angeles Sparks newcomer Rickea Jackson is scoring just under double digits, with 9.7 ppg. through three games.

Under a national microscope, however, Clark's critics were quick to point out her turnover rate, as she led the league with 6.5 miscues per game after the Fever's 0-4 start. But, she also became just the fourth player in league history with 50 points and 15 assists in their first three professional games.

Martin was quick to defend her former teammate.

"(There were) a lot of fans hyping (her) up and obviously her game is going to translate, I know it will," Martin said. "It's early in the season right now. She played (four) WNBA games in her entire life, so I think everybody needs to take a deep breath and relax. Caitlin's great, she's going to be fine. I'm gonna support her."

And though she missed her good friend’s WNBA debut on Saturday, Clark said she was following the Aces-Sparks game on her phone and is looking forward to playing against Martin on Saturday when the Fever visit Las Vegas.

“Everything that (Las Vegas) coach (Becky) Hammon says about Kate is just so true,” Clark said. “It's something that I've known over the course of my four years at Iowa. She's just a great leader, a great person, somebody that's going to do a lot of the dirty work. She's not worried about herself, she's worried about what she's going to do to make the team better, so I'm just really happy for Kate. It'll be fun to play against her … probably gonna have to poke a little fun at her on the court so hopefully she guards me or something.”

White and her veteran-laden Sun team have already seen Clark twice, including a thrilling 88-84 victory on Monday night, while also facing Washington Mystics rookie Aaliyah Edwards, fresh off her run to the Final Four with Connecticut.

"A lot of players who have played for championships who understand the moments, who don't shy away from the moments, and really want to continue to move the needle for women's basketball," White added. "And you can tell it in their work, you can tell it in how they handle themselves in the media, how they handle themselves with the fans. It's an incredibly gifted class from a basketball standpoint, but I also think a really mature class from understanding the impact that they can have on this league and understanding how to continue to move the needle for the little girls in the stands that are watching them."

Edwards said after Draft weekend the impressive troupe of picks collectively acknowledged the impact they could have on the league, more so than in previous years.

"Whether that's the viewership, whether that's just our energy and our youthfulness to add into the game," Edwards said. "But I think for me individually, I'm just trying to soak it all in. I'm not really trying to look ahead of what's to come, but just staying in the moment and taking one game at a time."

Through Cameron Brink's first three games she has 11 blocks for the Los Angeles Sparks, just the fifth player in league history to have 11 or more in their first three WNBA games.

Reese said the support of the entire Sky organization has helped ease her transition from LSU to the pro ranks.

"My vets have put a lot of confidence in me, my coaching staff has put a lot of confidence in me," said Reese, who led the league with 6.0 offensive rebounds per game through her first two contests. "They really don't treat me like a rookie and they always just are there for me."

Seattle coach Noelle Quinn has seen Minnesota Lynx rookie Alissa Pili twice and Edwards once amid a three-game road trip, while awaiting her rookie, Nika Mühl, to resolve her work visa status.

"There are a lot of good names," Quinn said. "I love it as a basketball savant, and knowing that being in this league at this time, blessed to be a part of it and it matters. And so I love that these rookies are elevating this league."

NOEY 5.0 -- Along with the Storm earning their first victory of the season Sunday in Washington D.C., Quinn notched her 50th career win as a coach. Quinn is in her fourth year as coach in Seattle. She enjoyed her best season in 2022, when the Storm finished 22-14 in Sue Bird and Briann January's final season.

FREE NIKA -- After facing a delay due to visa approval issues, it appears Mühl is set to make her long-awaited WNBA debut on Wednesday when the Fever come to town. According to The Next's Howard Megdal, Mühl has finally been cleared, which would set up a personal rematch with Clark, whose Iowa Hawkeyes beat Mühl's Connecticut Huskies on April 5 in the Final Four.

DEALING ACES -- The Aces' players cutting a deal with the Las Vegas Convention Visitors Authority has drawn plenty of attention across the board, with good and bad feedback pouring in. A team source confirmed to me the WNBA has officially opened an investigation and I wrote about why I felt the deal was a brilliant and ol' school Vegas maneuver in a column for the Sporting Tribune.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK -- Connecticut's Alyssa Thomas was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, while Minnesota's Napheesa Collier earned the honor for the Western Conference. Thomas led the Sun to a 2-0 week after averaging 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds. and 9.5 assists per game. Collier helped the Lynx to a 2-0 mark after averaging 24.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per contest.

RECORD BREAKERS -- Per ESPN, Saturday's game between the Fever and New York Liberty on ABC peaked at 1.96 million viewers, with Nielsen reporting 1.71 million viewers. It was the most-viewed WNBA game on ABC ever. That night, the Sparks and two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces peaked at 1.55 million and drew a 1.34 million rating, third-most viewed every on ABC.