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Anticipation for the 2024 WNBA season was palpable due to the loaded rookie class that came in, especially with the arrival of two particularly highly anticipated players: Iowa Hawkeye sharpshooting supernova Caitlin Clark and LSU Tiger Angel Reese. In the 2023 National Championship game, Clark and Reese's teams faced off in a thrilling match, captivating over 9.5 million viewers per Nielsen, setting the stage for their future showdowns in the WNBA while taking women's college basketball to new heights.
Clark and Reese have not just raised the fanfare and audience to a new level for the WNBA from college; they have revolutionized the league. From Clark's audaciousness from behind the arc to Reese’s unapologetic persona and double-double prowess, they have not just won hearts or stirred up controversy. Still, they have left an indelible mark on the league, always leaving a lasting impression.
Clark was the consensus No.1 pick (no surprise) in the 2024 WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever, while Reese went seventh overall to the Chicago Sky. We all knew they’d be good coming in, but their exceptional performance has surpassed our expectations, making their journey even more thrilling. Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese: Who Will Win WNBA Rookie Of The Year?
Let's dive in.
Clark Continues Setting Records In The WNBA
Brian Spurlock / Icon Sportswire via AP
Continuing her trend from college, Clark is captivating viewers every time she steps on the court, leading all rookies in points (17.8), steals (1.4), free-throw % (89.3), three-point makes (78), and field-goals made (155). That doesn’t even include that she leads the entire league in assists as a rookie! Averaging 8.3 assists per game, the highest average of any WNBA rookie in history.
Her rookie season is already a record-breaking one, with Clark surpassing Ticha Penicheiro’s record set in 1998 for the most assists (232 and counting) by any rookie in WNBA history. It is more impressive, considering there is still about a month left of play for her to continue adding to the total. Absurd! Clark expressed her gratitude for achieving such a feat:
“To pass somebody like her, I’m just forever thankful. She’s been such a legend in our game. It’s super cool, but hopefully there are a lot more of those,” Clark – who leads the league with 8.3 assists per game – said after the Fever’s 92-75 victory Sunday over the Seattle Storm.
Clark’s record-breaking achievements and dominance in the WNBA don’t stop there, as she became the first rookie ever to record a triple-double (19 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds) in an 83-78 victory over last year's WNBA Finals runner-up New York Liberty. Clark did that against the team with the best record in the league, led by reigning MVP Breanna Stewart and another young star guard, Sabrina Ionescu.
Whether it’s her unconsciousness from three or making the right read out of the pick-and-roll to find the open shooter or teammate on a dime to the basket. Clark’s IQ for the game and as a floor general is second to none, which is why she’s appointed television due to her artistic theatrics on the court. No game displays this better than her single-game WNBA record of 19 assists against the Dallas Wings.
Enjoy this wondrous wizardry!
Clark looks to continue the Fever's playoff push. The team currently sits in 7th place in the WNBA standings, with the top eight seeds making the playoffs. If she continues her record-breaking performances while helping lead her team to wins, she may take home Rookie Of The Year, with the most recent odds massively favoring her at -2000 per Fox Sports.
Despite the massive odds favoring Clark, the competition for the Rookie of The Year title is fierce, adding an element of suspense and excitement to the season. But she's not the only rookie breaking records and making headlines.
Angel Reese Is A Double-Double Machine
Clark is not the only rookie shattering records this season. Chicago Sky star rookie Angel Reese has been a double-double machine, averaging 13.6 points and a league-leading 12.3 rebounds, with 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Reese, like Clark, has been rewriting the record books all season, having had the most consecutive double-doubles for a WNBA rookie all-time (15).
No performance highlights her dominance more as a double-double machine than Sunday’s 86-68 loss against the Phoenix Mercury, where Reese was relentless, scoring 19 points and cleaning the glass for 20 rebounds, becoming the fastest WNBA player to do so. The relentless Reese continued to show the nonstop motor on the glass, making her unique, as you’ll see in the game against the Mercury. Here's her dominance on display against Diana Taurasi and the Mercury:
Reese’s game may not be as flashy or polarizing as Clark's, but her constant motor to create second and third-chance opportunities for her team is why the Sky have a breathing shot to make the playoffs. She’s also the main reason the Sky rank atop the league in rebounds per game (37.1) as of Aug.22 per ESPN.
Final Verdict
In the end, Clark and Reese are foundational to their respective organizations and the future of the WNBA. Their marketable appeals are evident and show with their commercials and sponsors they have off the court. You can argue that both should hold up the Rookie of The Year as co-winners, but we know that’s not how sports work. These two rookie sensations will have one more chance to battle it out for bragging rights this regular season on Aug.30 when the Sky host the Fever at 7:30 PM ET, with Clark currently holding the winning edge over Reese (2-1 in their first three WNBA matchups.
If I had to choose a winner, I’d give the slight edge to Clark because she leads the league in assists as a rookie and has exceeded all the expectations many placed on her coming into the WNBA. From setting a WNBA single-game record in assists to becoming the only rookie to record a triple-double, the achievements of her generational talent continue to captivate fans worldwide. She’s just a magician.
It will be a great down-to-the-wire battle till the end of the season to see which of these phenomenal rookies raises the award, but if there’s one thing that’s a guarantee for the WNBA… The league is in good hands, and it’s just the beginning.
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