Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the race for WNBA Rookie of the Year… so who will come out on top?
Despite all the headlines and stories, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are real to have the WNBA’s top two rookies this year.
That won’t come as a huge surprise to Clark, who was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever after a stellar college career at Iowa.
Reese, who was drafted six spots lower at No. 7 overall, may have adjusted a little more quickly than some expected.
The energetic center already sets the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles, with 11 (and counting) after her latest attempt on Tuesday.
While Clark and Reese will not be traveling to Paris with the U.S. Women’s National Team, they will both represent the WNBA All-Star team at their first opportunity.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark to compete for WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The pair have been cordial off the field, but have often been played off against each other
| Caitlin Clark | Angel Reese |
|---|---|
| 16.0 points | 13.2 points |
| 5.7 rebounds | 11.8 rebounds |
| 7.1 assist | 1.9 assists |
| 1.3 steals | 1.4 steals |
| 0.8 blocks | 0.2 blocks |
It’s the first time since 2014 that two rookies have been All-Stars.
There’s one award they can’t share, though: Rookie of the Year.
If her Fever remains competitive, the much-used Clark will certainly have a strong argument for the price.
She averages 16 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists, but her shooting is inefficient at 39.1 percent, and 33.7 percent from three (in college she made 37.7 percent of her shots from three).
The argument against Clark’s Rookie of the Year case lies in the stats. Aside from her poor shooting, she’s throwing up 5.6 turnovers per game, and the Fever have technically been a better offensive team without Clark on the court.
Per Basketball ReferenceThe Fever’s offensive rating with Clark is 102.2 points per 100 possessions and 104.7 points/100 without her. Overall, the difference between the team’s net rating per 100 possessions with and without Clark is just 0.2.
Of course, that’s not all credit goes to the Indiana star, who has helped her team bounce back from a 2-9 start (they’re now 8-13). It’s also likely that many of Clark’s non-playing minutes have come against benchwarmers or in garbage time.
Clark has also racked up some historic numbers, having already broken the Fever rookie record for assists and becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 300 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists.
The Fever and Sky have played each other three times this season, with Clark’s team winning twice
Reese recently hit Clark hard in the head with a bad foul while trying to make a block
Still, Reese’s impact on the Chicago Fever may be statistically more significant.
The former LSU star is averaging 13.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals, while also shooting as inefficiently as Clark, making 39.7 percent of his shots.
Reese’s impact on the win is much more evident in the stats, however, especially on defense. Without her presence on the court, Sky scores 12.3 fewer points per 100 possessions.
Overall, Chicago scores a whopping 16.8 points better per 100 possessions with their rookie on the court versus off it.
And it’s not like Reese benefits from playing for a dominant team like Liberty or Aces.
In fact, her Sky (7-11) have won fewer games than the Fever and lead them by just half a game in the standings, via winning percentage. Reese has been exceptionally dominant, leading the league in total rebound percentage and offensive rebound percentage.
Of course, prizes are often determined by stories as much as by statistics. For example, this prize can depend on which team is better, or at least how big the difference is between the teams.
Clark has taken on a huge offensive role for the Fever as the team’s playmaker
If the Fever regress to their poor early season form and Reese’s Sky hovers around .500, Clark could be viewed by voters as a stat-packer for a bad team.
If Indiana remains competitive, Clark will rightfully be considered a major reason for that.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Clark and Reese have had a fight.
Reese infamously made a joke about Clark during last year’s NCAA Championship game as LSU cruised to a comfortable victory.
And this year, Reese caused controversy when she was seen cheering on teammate Chennedy Carter as she gave Clark a blatant bodycheck. She later (accidentally) hit Clark in the head with a hard foul in another game.
While Reese may divide opinion among fans, it’s clear that she and Clark have played a major role in boosting the WNBA’s ratings and attendance.
More than 400,000 fans attended the games in May, the highest attendance in 26 years, according to the league.
On ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS, WNBA games average 1.32 million viewers, nearly three times the previous season’s 462,200 viewers.
And Reese is happy to take on the role of villain to draw crowds to the games.
“People come to games, we have celebrities come to games, sold out arenas. Just because of one game. And just looking at that – I will take on that role. I will take on the role of the villain and I will continue to do that. And that’s what I will be for my teammates.”
Clark and Reese have been rivals since Reese challenged Clark at the 2023 national championship
While Clark and Reese have played a key role in generating interest in the W, some of their fellow rookies have also started strong.
Kamilla Cardoso and Aaliyah Edwards are both averaging over eight points and over six rebounds per game, while Rickea Johnson is quietly putting up 10.2 (efficient) shots for the struggling LA Sparks team.
Her teammate Cameron Brink also started the season strong, until she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept her out for the rest of the season.
Ultimately, however, the Rookie of the Year award will go to either Clark or Reese.
Time will tell who wins.