Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark: WNBA Rookie of the Year Debate
ESPN pundit Monica McNutt sparked controversy with her rationale for selecting Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky as WNBA Rookie of the Year over Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever. “My Rookie of the Year will be based on the standings because I think that’s how you have to measure it,” McNutt explained, emphasizing the importance of team success in evaluating individual performance. “And Sky are in the playoffs now, so, in my opinion, you have to nod first with Angel Reese.”
McNutt highlighted Reese’s impressive record of 11 double-doubles and noted that the Sky lacked All-Star players when Reese joined the team. In contrast, McNutt pointed out that the Indiana Fever already had a strong foundation with last season’s No. 1 pick and 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell, who averaged nearly 20 points per game.
Caitlin Clark is leading all WNBA rookies in scoring, assists and field goals made but ok 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 #WNBA https://t.co/1yTzJ9HwrD
— Gabriel Morency (@sportsrage) July 5, 2024
Fans who followed the WNBA closely this season, drawn in by the performances of both Clark and Reese, took to social media to disagree with McNutt’s criteria. Despite the debate, both rookies have continued to excel. Caitlin Clark recently became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double, while Angel Reese extended her double-double streak to 12 games.
As of Sunday, both the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever were in the top eight in the WNBA standings, positioning themselves for the playoffs. The Rookie of the Year race remains heated, with both Clark and Reese proving their value on the court and making strong cases for the prestigious award.