The Battle for WNBA Rookie of the Year heats up

In the 2024 WNBA season, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are bringing the heat as they battle it out for the Rookie of the Year award. Both of these young stars are making waves in the league by breaking records and putting up impressive stats in their debut seasons.

Clark made history by becoming the first rookie in the WNBA to achieve a triple-double, showcasing her incredible skills on the court. Not to be outdone, Reese also left her mark by breaking the all-time WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles, proving that she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Caitlin Clark’s locker room celebration after historic WNBA triple-double

Initially, Clark was seen as the frontrunner for the ROTY title, but Reese has been steadily gaining ground, making the race even more thrilling. ESPN’s Elle Duncan weighed in on the competition, acknowledging the tough challenge for guards like Clark to make an immediate impact in the WNBA compared to post players. Despite this, she still leans slightly towards Clark for the award, citing the difficulty for guards to transition seamlessly into the league.

Duncan expressed her thoughts on The Elle Duncan Show, saying, “I would still maybe slightly give the edge to Caitlin… Because most WNBA players would tell you it’s harder for a guard to translate right away in the W than it is for a post player.” She added, “Because she’s going up against that aspect of it, I’ll still probably give the nod to Caitlin Clark for Rookie of the Year, but I think it’s going to be a great race.”

Elle Duncan with the best take on the WNBA and Caitlin Clark you'll hear all season. pic.twitter.com/1uYiwkeJq8

— The Right Time with Bomani Jones (@righttimebomani) June 2, 2024

Analyst gives slight edge to Caitlin Clark

Looking at their stats, Clark is averaging 16.1 points, 7.4 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game, while Reese is not far behind with averages of 14.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per contest. The competition between these two exceptional players has certainly made this season one to remember.

Despite the tight race, some like Gary Striewski believe that Clark still holds a strong position for the award. “I don’t think it should be as close as maybe people think it is gonna be,” Striewski commented. “We still have half the season to play. Caitlin Clark, if you just look at the numbers, it’s right there.”

With half the season still ahead, fans can expect an intense battle between these two rising stars as they continue to leave their mark on the WNBA. It’s a race that’s keeping everyone on the edge of their seats and adding an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling season.

ESPN's Elle Duncan Makes Clear Choice Between Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese https://t.co/9dNjYSuOPi

— Athlon Sports (@AthlonSports) July 9, 2024