WNBA Rookie Watch: Edwards, Cardoso, and Jackson Heating Up

Three rookies are making serious noise in the race for Rookie of the Year honors, putting on impressive performances in June.

Aaliyah Edwards Makes Her Case

UConn alumna Aaliyah Edwards has forced her way into the Rookie of the Year conversation with a dominant June. Averaging a double-double (12.1 points, 9.4 rebounds) when playing at least 25 minutes, Edwards sits fourth in scoring among rookies and leads the pack in both rebounds and blocks per game (1.6) in that timeframe. Her defensive prowess is further highlighted by her ranking as the league’s third-best rookie defender.

Cardoso Overcomes Early Struggles

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso battled back from injuries that sidelined her for the season’s first six games. Since her return, she’s averaged a solid 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in limited minutes (22.3 per game). Even more impressive is her recent surge, averaging a double-double (11.3 points, 7.0 rebounds) over the last four games, including her first career feat in the category against the Indiana Fever.

Jackson: A Scoring Machine

Another strong contender for Rookie of the Year is Rickea Jackson. As predicted in her player spotlight, Jackson has proven to be a scoring machine, averaging 10.3 points per game despite playing just 23 minutes. June saw her take her game to new heights, averaging 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds when playing over 25 minutes. Notably, she’s the only rookie averaging over 10 points while shooting over 45% from the field. With increased playing time, her well-rounded skillset could see her stats rise across the board, solidifying her position as a top-tier scorer and potential Rookie of the Year.