WNBA: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese each worthy of Rookie of the 12 months

The 2024 Rookie of the 12 months Award goes to be settled between the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese. The most well liked rivalry within the league is going down on particular person and workforce degree, which has been a advertising miracle. In a few years, this might be the duel to observe for the MVP. Earlier than that occurs, let’s give attention to the race for the Rookie of the 12 months award. And what a race it’s been to date…

Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)

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Caitlin Clark leads all rookies with 16.7 factors and seven.8 assists per recreation, whereas including 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals. She’s been enjoying underneath huge strain as some of the hyped prospects to enter the WNBA. And she or he’s principally delivered on her promise. She’s not at her Iowa degree—not less than not but—however she already achieved some groundbreaking milestones, like being the quickest participant in WNBA historical past to tally 300 factors, 100 rebounds and 100 assists, and the primary rookie to file a triple-double. The draw back of her rookie 12 months has been turnovers; she’s the league chief with 5.5 per recreation. If she wins ROY, some individuals will complain it’s due to her reputation, regardless that it’ll be ignoring the truth that she’s in style exactly as a result of she’s so good.

Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)

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Angel Reese, the lady Shaquille O’Neal referred to as the best LSU basketball participant ever, no matter gender, is the steal of the draft. You is perhaps inclined to provide that distinction to Kate Martin, the No. 18 overal choose, who’s slot in so properly with the Las Vegas Aces, however Reese falling all the best way to No. 7, whereas being significantly thought of for Rookie of the 12 months is even crazier than Martin’s play in Las Vegas. Would issues work out the identical means for Reese on the Los Angeles Sparks, the Dallas Wings or the Washington Mystics? Or is she enjoying with a chip on her shoulder as a result of 5 groups handed on her, giving her that additional edge that she used to her benefit at LSU? We’ll by no means know. However, what we do know is on the Chicago Sky she’s averaging 13.8 factors, 11.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per recreation. At the moment, she’s the most effective rebounder within the league. If she continues to seize 11.82 boards in every contest for the rest of the season, she is going to find yourself with the third-highest single-season rebounding common in league historical past, solely behind Sylvia Fowles (11.88 in 2018) and Jonquel Jones (11.85 in 2017). By itself, that’s particular. ROY worthy? Positively.

The very best of the remaining

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Until one thing particular occurs, the award can be determined between the above two gamers. That may be a testomony to the skills of Clark and Reese, relatively than a repudiation of this draft class’ standing. The No. 4 general choose, Rickea Jackson, is a starter on the Sparks and is third amongst rookies in factors per recreation with 10.7. Kamilla Cardoso, Reese’s teammate and the No. 3 general choose, is averaging 8.3 factors, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, getting back from an harm that saved her out of the primary seven video games of the season. Aaliyah Edwards (No. 6 general) and Julia Vanloo (undrafted and WNBA’s oldest rookie at 31 years outdated) have been stable for the Mystics, with Edwards averaging 8.8 factors and 6.0 rebounds and the Belgian level guard scoring 8.1 factors and dispensing 5.0 assists per recreation. This draft class is sweet. It’s simply that Clark and Reese overshadow all the opposite gamers with their influence, maturity and abilities.