Christie Sides joins WNBA Rookie of the Year debate with expected Caitlin Clark verdict

As expected, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are the frontrunners for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, and Christie Sides has explained why the Indiana Fever star has to win

Caitlin Clark is the leading favorite to be named WNBA Rookie of the Year, and Indiana Fever head coach Christie Sides unsurprisingly believes she deserves to win the award.

Clark leads her fellow rookies in points (16.1) and assists (7.4) this season, and although it took a while for the Fever to look like a team capable of competing, the No. 1 pick from the 2024 WNBA Draft has remained consistent. “I’m always going to make a case for my players,” Sides said when being asked about the ROTY debate.

“First and foremost, she (Clark) is the most competitive human being I’ve ever met. Really compare her to Diana Taurasi. She’s always looking to find ways to get better. ‘How can I help the team? What can we do?’”

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Clark is looking to beat Angel Reese to the award, with the LSU product impressing in her first season with the Chicago Sky. But just as the debate was heating up, Clark made WNBA history after recording a triple-double against the New York Liberty.

Indiana secured a shock 83-78 win over the Liberty, handing New York just its fourth loss of the season. Clark finished the game with 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds, making her the first rookie to ever record a triple-double. The achievement summed up Clark, further adding to her legacy against one of the top WNBA teams. Clark was already leading the race for ROTY, according to betting odds, but the lines have shifted even further in her favor after that game.

“She found a rhythm tonight. The timing for our players is getting better every game,” Sides added of Clark. “You know, those passes that she was making early, we just weren’t ready for them. Now, the chemistry is there, the timing is there, and that’s going to keep getting better.

Sides is proud of Clark and is aware the No. 1 pick is a winner. ( 
Image:
Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“She just wants to win. To me, she’s going to be my Rookie of the Year every day.”

Reese, though, could keep the Rookie of the Year race closer than some people anticipate. Reese made history of her own this weekend, breaking Candace Parker’s all-time streak for consecutive double-doubles.

And the Sky believe Reese should win Rookie of the Year. “Barbie (Reese) is rookie of the year,” said teammate Chennedy Carter. There’s no other way to put it. She goes out, she does her work every single night no matter what team we’re facing. She’s rookie of the year for sure.”

Reese and Clark will team up later this month at the WNBA All-Star Game – the first time they’ve played on the same side at any level. Then, they’ll get much-needed rest during the midseason Olympic break.