Sports Icon Billie Jean King Sends Strong Message to Caitlin Clark After WNBA Rookie Season

It was a heck of a run for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, but their season has come to an end after an 87-81 Game 2 loss to the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA playoffs.

Two days following elimination, The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed that Clark had been named the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star earned this honor after leading Indiana to its first postseason appearance since 2016, breaking numerous records along the way.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King took note of some of Clark’s biggest achievements in her first WNBA season, and, on Saturday, she sent a message to the rookie.

“What a first season!” King wrote on X. “Congratulations to Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Her historical season includes: Single-season assist record. Single-season rookie scoring record. First rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double. First rookie to record 100 threes in a single season.”

King is one of the best women’s tennis players the world has ever seen. Born in Long Beach, California, the 80-year-old won 39 Grand Slam titles, including singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She also broke the world record for most Wimbledon titles with 20.

Her professional career started in 1968 and ended in 1990. King was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.

Clark ended her rookie season starting in all 40 games for the Fever. She averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists. After being named a WNBA All-Star, Clark helped Team WNBA upset Team USA before they went on to win Olympic gold while becoming the only rookie to record ten assists in the All-Star game.