Angel Reese and Caitlin ClarkJuan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Look, the sports world is prone to exaggeration, but there’s at least one thing that has lived up to the hype recently: the 2024 WNBA rookie class. As we enter the Olympic break, we’ve already seen Angel Reese set the double-double streak record (15 straight games) and Caitlin Clark set the single-game assist record (19).

I think we can all agree it’s been a blast watching those two somehow exceed the hype and rise above the pressure, but they aren’t even remotely the only two first-year players making noise.

As they’ve been battling it out for the Rookie of the Year award itself, the rest of the class has been right behind them making their own names. Whether it’s Rickea Jackson stepping up wherever her team needs her or Kamilla Cardoso not missing a beat after her shoulder injury, the rooks made noise across the league in the first half of the season.

As we await the Olympic Games on Friday, let’s take a look at how the top seven 2024 draft picks are doing.

No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink has been omitted due to her season-ending ACL injury.

Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

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When it comes to evaluating rookies, trajectory weighs just as heavily as anything else. We’ve witnessed Indiana Fever No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark get more and more comfortable as the season has progressed, and she’s leading the seventh-place Fever (11-15) into brighter days—and potentially the playoff conversation.

Clark spent the last weeks before the Olympic break truly rounding into the offensive form that has captivated us from the start of her college career, and she did it while improving defensively.

She became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double with a 19-point, 13-assist, 12-rebound stat line against the first-place New York Liberty on July 6, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that she only surrendered four turnovers, her first pro game with fewer than five.

Clark is leading all rookies in points per game (17.1), assists per game (8.2), steals per game (1.5), three-pointers (71 total) and WNBA.com’s efficiency rating (19.6). Through 26 games, she’s well on pace to become the first rookie ever (and the fourth player ever) with a 15/5/5 season. The Iowa product also leads the league in assists and is fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.7).

Among rookies who’ve played at least 20 games at a 20-minute-per-night clip, her 100.3 offensive efficiency is No. 1.

Her stats were good to begin with, but lately she’s elevated to exceed even our most obnoxious expectations.

The latest development? Clark set the league’s single-game assist record with 19 against the Wings on July 17.

Grade: A+

Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago Sky

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Chicago Sky No. 3 pick Kamilla Cardoso is exactly what we’re talking about when we say this rookie class has star potential at every position.

At 6’7″, the 23-year-old center has held her own in the paint, making the Sky a particularly annoying team to play against when combined with fellow rebounding rookie Angel Reese. She’s second only to Reese in rebounds per game among first-year players with 7.8, which ranks a respectable No. 11 leaguewide.

Her confidence is increasing along with her playing time, and now she’s averaging 26.2 minutes per game (No. 3 among rookies behind Clark and Reese), despite missing the start of the season with a shoulder injury sustained in the preseason. She’s come back determined and now her efficiency rating is No. 3 among rookies at 12.2.

It’s extremely difficult to get hurt the way she did at the beginning of her first pro season. The immediate impact she made upon her return to the roster is special, and Cardoso is certainly one to watch for a second-half explosion.

Grade: B+

Rickea Jackson, Los Angeles Sparks

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Rickea Jackson, the No. 4 pick, has been popping off with more minutes for the Los Angeles Sparks lately, and it’s been huge, especially as rookie teammate and No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink’s season ended early with an unfortunate ACL injury.

Jackson is third among rookies with 11.4 points per game and has been particularly explosive on offense headed into the break. She has the third-most 20 point games among rookies with two, and ties Reese with the second-most 15 point games with seven.

She’s been utilized in the 3 and 4 positions throughout the season and has been a key contributor to the Sparks offense, with the third-highest points per game on the team. This is even more vital for the Sparks as center Azura Stevens is out with an arm injury.

Jackson has stepped up when her number has been called and has been patient with her usage. With the way the 23-year-old has been trending—notching a career-high 22 points against the Mercury on July 7 and shooting more in general—the second-half potential looks bright.

Grade: A-

Jacy Sheldon, Dallas Wings

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Jacy Sheldon hadn’t seen much of the court for the Dallas Wings until a stark minutes increase June 9, but the No. 5 pick has been logging 20-plus minutes in all but one game since June 15. She has logged at least 30 minutes in four of her last five outings compared to single-digit minutes she received at the start of the season, and you’re seeing her attempt—and make—far more shots as a result.

Sheldon is averaging 5.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, all numbers that have significantly increased since taking on a bigger role on the injury-riddled Wings.

There’s room to grow and an opportunity to do so for the Ohio State-bred guard. If she keeps it up with the increased minutes, role and shot attempts, we could see Sheldon emerge and become a larger part of this rookie conversation. As it stands, she fails to crack the fringes of the ROY conversation.

Grade: C+

Aaliyah Edwards, Washington Mystics

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Forward Aaliyah Edwards has been solid in her role as the Washington Mystics have been trying to fill the gap two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne left when she stepped away from basketball.

The UConn product is averaging 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game off the bench and has adjusted to not always getting the start just fine. She’s fourth among rookies in scoring and third in rebounds.

She’s leading all first-year players with her 49 percent shooting from the field, but she’s seventh in playing time so she’s attempted fewer than some of the top dogs. The 22-year-old is controlling what she can control, though, and it’s a good sign for the future of her career.

The No. 6 pick got the nod for Team Canada, so we’ll get to check her out in a potentially bigger role on an Olympic roster.

Grade: B-

Angel Reese, Chicago Sky

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Every day that passes is another day to ask ourselves why on Earth teams let Angel Reese drop to No. 7 in the WNBA draft. Regardless, the Sky have reaped the benefits of a player who has come in and handled the pressure, and has already broken several records.

Where Clark has sharpened up on defense recently, Reese is really starting to ramp it up on offense.

Mid-July saw a career-high 27-point outing against Seattle, and July in general has seen a stark increase in three-point attempts from the paint-dweller. She hasn’t had fewer than 10 rebounds in a game since May 30, which leads us into her biggest flex to date: Reese set a WNBA record with 15 consecutive double-doubles this season.

The 22-year-old ranks second among rookies in points per game (13.5), first in rebounds per game (11.9), second in steals per game (1.4) and second in WNBA.com’s efficiency rating (19.0 to Clark’s 19.6). Among the rookie set who’ve played 20 minutes a night and at least 20 games, she’s first in defensive rating (96.2).

Total rebounds amassed so far? 286. The next-best rookie? Clark with 151. Mind you, Reese is averaging about four fewer minutes than Clark per game.

Not everything has to be a Clark vs. Reese competition, but it’s been a blast to see the two emerging superstars tweak different parts of their game the past few weeks as they become well-rounded.

Naturally, Reese became the first rookie in WNBA history to post a double-double at the All-Star Game.

Grade: A