WNBA Rookie Rankings: Kiki Rice shining for Tempo, Olivia Miles still on top as league returns from FIBA break — SkimNews
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- Olivia Miles is the overwhelming WNBA Rookie of the Year favorite, averaging 19.7 points per game — top 10 league-wide — and sitting at 749 career points, just 21 from breaking Caitlin Clark's all-time WNBA rookie scoring record.
- Flau'jae Johnson is the second-leading scorer among rookies at 14.1 points per game, and her eighth 20-point game (23 points against Dallas on Aug. 23) pushed her past Sue Bird for the most 20-point games by a rookie in Storm history.
- Kiki Rice has been one of the most consistent rookies for the Toronto Tempo despite a left ankle sprain, averaging 12.5 points on 48% shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, and tying her season high with 24 points against Seattle on Aug. 26.
- Awa Fam of the Seattle Storm averaged 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists while helping Spain to third place at the FIBA World Cup; she has a chance to redeem herself after a zero-point outing against Dallas on Aug. 23, with another Dallas matchup remaining on Seattle's schedule.
- Sydney Taylor, an undrafted rookie, had her season disrupted by a left groin injury but notched 29 points (including the game-winner) against the Aces on Aug. 1 and 31 points against the Liberty less than two weeks earlier.
- Laura Juskaite of the Toronto Tempo earned an honorable mention, scoring in double digits in her last six games with at least 50% shooting in five of them and at least six rebounds in four — a sign of what could be a bright future for Toronto.
- The article notes No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd's season ended early due to injury, with a more extensive end-of-season rookie list to follow next week.
Why it matters: Miles is 21 points away from Clark's all-time rookie scoring record and has already hit 20+ points 20 times this season — meaning she is virtually certain to surpass it inside the final week of regular-season play, adding a marquee individual milestone to a Rookie of the Year campaign that the league is already treating as decided.
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