This year has provided American sports with as strong an overall rookie class as it has had in recent memory, with stars born in several leagues, and even one with possibly its best rookie class in history.
As much as 2024 could be described as a year defined by the Olympics or Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love affair, it might actually best be described as the year of the rookie.
In each of the big-four sports leagues, one rookie has been a game-changer for the league, introducing themselves as the next big thing.
And in the WNBA, several rookies contributed to be the best group of first-year players the league has ever seen, raising the bar for all of basketball.
We’ll start with the person at the forefront in the rise of popularity in women’s basketball, dating back to her college days.
Caitlin Clark has led the rise in popularity in women’s basketball for well over the last year
Clark’s entrance into the WNBA helped the league set viewership records consistently
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
The No 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft came into the league with as big a spotlight as you can imagine for a rookie.
With LeBron James-level expectations in terms of form, on-and-off the court, Clark took the Indiana Fever from the league’s worst team to a playoff contender in one campaign.
The WNBA’s Rookie of the Year finished fourth in MVP voting and set the league record for assists in a single game (19) and a season (337).
Although she was snubbed from Team USA at the Olympics in favor of more experienced hoopers, she represented the WNBA All-Stars and defeated the Olympians in their only loss of the summer.
Clark had to overcome constant attention from the media and other players, still learning to adjust to the physicality of the WNBA by being one of the league leaders in technical fouls.
Her $28million shoe deal should open up doors for other female athletes down the road.
Clark is not the only WNBA rookie to have changed the league forever.
Angel Reese has been perceived as a rival to Clark despite growing the game in her own way
Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
Reese and Clark’s careers will forever be linked. They played as opponents in two NCAA Tournament games at LSU and Iowa respectively, and in four more in their rookie WNBA seasons.
Despite Clark being the runaway favorite for rookie of the year, Reese set her own path to greatness by setting the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles (15).
Reese’s season ended prematurely due to a hairline fracture in her left wrist, leaving some to speculate as to what her true impact could have been with a full season in the WNBA.
With Reese out of the lineup, the Sky fell out of a playoff position and head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was fired after one season guiding the team.
That’s truly a good sign for how much weight Reese already held within the team as things fell apart quickly without her.
Not bad for the seventh overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft.
Paul Skenes has become one of baseball’s best pitchers over the last several months
Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Skenes’ big-league debut was a long time coming as he dominated his way through the minor leagues after being the No 1 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft.
Skenes rookie season lived up to the hype, as he cemented himself as the Pirates’ ace next year.
In 23 starts, he finished with an 11-3 record, a 1.96 earned-run average and 170 strikeouts.
Skenes was also named the National League’s starter for the All-Star Game before he lost a professional start.
Skenes is also well known as the boyfriend of LSU gymnast and social-media star Olivia Dunne.
The two had long tried to keep their romance under wraps, with their huge followings, but confirmed their relationship on social media last summer.
Skenes signed a $9.2million bonus when joining the Pirates to go along with Dunne being the highest-earning female collegiate athlete due to NIL deals.
Jayden Daniels has quickly proven himself as the best rookie quarterback in the NFL this year
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Washington’s professional football franchise has been looking for a permanent answer at quarterback for the last three decades.
Some have stuck for a little while, like Kirk Cousins and Jason Campbell, but none truly gained the confidence of the fan base and front office at once.
Daniels has seemingly done so in an unparalleled way after four games.
A staggering completion percentage of 82.1 in his professional career, combined with one turnover, will impress boat loads of people.
Daniels’ dual-threat ability has set him apart from every other rookie quarterback in what was thought to be a competitive field heading into the season.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, and everyone else can’t compare.
Victor Wembanyama was seen as a can’t-miss prospect and completely lived up to the hype
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
The 7-foot-4 Frenchman came into the league with the ball-handling ability better than most guards.
Wembanyama also had an incredible wingspan that could battle any player in the league.
While his San Antonio Spurs never truly competed for a playoff spot last season, it was clear how much respect ‘Wemby’ was gaining around the league.
Stars such as James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic all complimented the rise of Wembanyama.
The scary part for the NBA is that the silver medalist from the Paris Olympics only turned 20 in January.
And he’s not even the youngest game-changer in American sports.
The young Connor Bedard has drawn comparisons to Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
Bedard only turned 19 in July. While it is not unusual for the NHL to have a player this young, this good, the pace at which hockey is played now will make it more difficult as time goes along.
Still Bedard clears that bar easily, even at 5-foot-10. It doesn’t matter your height when you can skate circles around most opponents.
Bedard’s rookie season was not as dominant as his contemporaries as he fractured his jaw in January and was forced to miss six weeks of the NHL season.
Bedard still won the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award after scoring 22 goals and massing 39 assists and 61 points.
He has an offseason to have more of a chance to mature and work on his game now that he has felt NHL competition.
A sophomore jump could be the biggest for the youngest on this list.
