The battle between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year is very close. Both players have made a strong case for the award in the first half of the season. But who has the advantage? South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley recently weighed in.
During a brief chat with TMZ Sports, Staley shared that she would give the edge to Reese, who recently set a new WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles. The Chicago Sky forward has achieved 15 straight double-double performances, surpassing the previous record held by Candace Parker (12).
“So you’re trying to stir up some controversy, huh?” Staley joked when asked about her Rookie of the Year pick. “Both players are having fantastic seasons, don’t get me wrong. But if I had to choose a Rookie of the Year right now, it would be Angel. No doubt. What she’s done with those double-doubles is remarkable.”
“However, we’re only halfway through the season, and Caitlin is making a push. Caitlin is coming on strong. If I had to decide today, I’d go with Angel. But by the end of the season? I will say this – the Rookie of the Year will come from the team that makes the playoffs.”
Staley, a former six-time WNBA All-Star and three-time NCAA national champion, holds a lot of credibility in women’s basketball. While she sees Reese as the current frontrunner, she acknowledges that Clark is also a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year title.
Reese is averaging 13.5 points and a league-leading 12.0 rebounds per game this season. She was selected as the 7th overall pick by the Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, a choice that is starting to look like a steal as the season progresses.
Clark made history as the first rookie in the league to achieve a triple-double, scoring 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds in the Indiana Fever’s win over the New York Liberty on July 6. She holds averages of 16.8 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Clark was the top overall pick by the Fever in the draft.
Undoubtedly, both Reese and Clark have been outstanding in the first half of the WNBA season. Clark was named the Rookie of the Month for May, while Reese received the honor in June. Both players were selected for the WNBA All-Star team.
Staley is correct in noting that there is still a lot of basketball to be played. It will be an exciting competition to see which rookie standout ultimately takes home the Rookie of the Year award at the season’s end.
