In the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, Hunter Cruse, Em Adler and Lincoln Shafer discuss the WNBA rookie class, including Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, Sparks forward Rickea Jackson, Sky forward Angel Reese and more.
Jackson, the No. 4 overall pick, averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28.8 minutes per game. Adler talks about what Jackson showed over the course of the season, even as Los Angeles finished in last place with an 8-32 record:
“She was probably the player where I most saw improvements that were sort of the little things that really help in the long run, the little things that we don’t necessarily project for someone who’s … at this kind of stage, in terms of the reaction time, in terms of quick thinking off the catch. Those were all, I think, very impressive in ways that really bump up her ability to be that sort of tertiary scoring role.”
Guard Jacy Sheldon, the No. 5 overall pick, also saw her season end without a trip to the playoffs. She averaged 5.4 points, 2.5 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game for the 9-31 Dallas Wings. Here’s Adler on takeaways from Sheldon’s rookie year:
“She had, by normal standards, a very fine rookie season. If you actually look at her numbers, they’re way better than you think based on watching her, and part of that is because of her reticence as a scorer. … [And part of that is] playing next to [high-volume shooter] Arike Ogunbowale alongside, for much of the season, two and a half to three nonshooting forwards and centers in a system that had terrible spacing and being a rim pressure guard who was forced to play the one. She didn’t really get to attack off the catch much. …
“I don’t think I’m adjusting my expectations [for Sheldon] up or down in any direction.”
Related reading:
- Jacy Sheldon shines despite Dallas Wings’ slow start
- Rookie of the Year debate? Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese shut down talk before another battle
- Rookie Aaliyah Edwards, Mystics’ ‘Duracell Bunny,’ makes WNBA transition look easy
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