WNBA: Draft. Image credit: Imagn

WNBA rookie stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have had their names intertwined since their first big matchup in college two years ago. Now they find themselves as top candidates for the Rookie of the Year award as their first seasons approach the halfway mark.

FS1 Anchor Rachel Nichols commented on the race Monday morning on the talk show “Undisputed.”

“(Clark) has impacted winning in a bigger way than anyone else in the rookie class,” Nichols said. “Her team is on pace to finish a lot better this year than it did last year, whereas Angel Reese’s Sky, right now, are not on track to improve.”

.@Rachel__Nichols says she would pick Caitlin Clark over Angel Reese as ROY right now:

“She has impacted winning in a bigger way than anyone else in the rookie class.” pic.twitter.com/Q5ZOHInXpe

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) July 8, 2024

The Fever were a league-worst 13-27 last season, and this year sit at 9-13, good for a .409 win percentage. Put that against the season total of 40 games, and the Fever are on track to win at least 16.

The Sky, on the other hand, finished 18-22 last year and currently hold a record of 8-12, one seed behind Indiana in the standings. That rate translates to an expected 16 wins, the same as Indiana, but a slight drop from their record last season.

Nichols argued this difference shines a light on what makes Clark slightly more valuable at this point in the season.

“She has impacted the overall state of the team,” Nichols said.

Clark, Reese clogging up the stat sheets in their rookie seasons

Rachel Nichols didn’t downplay Angel Reese’s accomplishments, however. She said what she’s done in the paint for the Sky is likely being overlooked, especially her record-breaking double-double streak of 13 games. She is averaging 14.1 points and 11.9 rebounds a game

“Angel Reese has been so impressive this year, so far … those double-doubles … we can’t sleep on the record she just set,” Nichols said. “Anytime you pass Candace Parker in anything, that is an accomplishment.”

If it weren’t for the tenacious play game in and game out, Nichols said she wouldn’t be in the conversation.

“That consistency, showing up for her team is part of the reason that Reese is a worthy candidate to talk about for rookie of the year,” she said.

But on the other end is the unstoppable guard Clark, who is putting up 16.1 points and 7.4 assists per game for the Fever. She’s second in the league in assists, first among guards, despite it being her first year on a team that finished with the league’s worst record last season.

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Edited by Joseph Schiefelbein