Basketball fans trolled Angel Reese after Caitlin Clark’s superb game against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday. [photo: Fever IG, Sky IG]
Caitlin Clark had another superb all-around game in the Indiana Fever’s 95-86 victory over the short-handed Phoenix Mercury on Friday. The newly named All-Star finished with 20 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, two steals and one block. She became the first WNBA rookie to tally 400 points, 100 rebounds and 150 assists.
Clark’s impressive run of games will make the Rookie of the Year race against rival Angel Reese even more exciting. Reese is also on an impressive stretch, having recorded 15 straight double-doubles, a WNBA record. They are separating themselves from the rest of the pack making every game a veritable stat watch for their fans.
Fans on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Caitlin Clark’s near triple-double night on Friday:
“Caitlin quick rebound 7 of your own miss”
Caitlin quick rebound 7 of your own miss 😩😩😩
— sofia (@slowlyslide) July 13, 2024
CC just needs to grab 7 of her own misses for a triple dub.
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) July 13, 2024
One fan counted how quickly Reese would get those rebounds:
“That’s just two plays for angel reese”
Another fan argued why that would not happen for Clark:
“nah she would end up accidentally making it”
@Rbertnedz piled it on:
“The Reese-Bound; make it happen rebounds”
Some fans have lately accused Angel Reese of stat-padding. The example they keep bringing up was the Chicago Sky’s game against the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday. Reese had nine points with 12 seconds left while Sky held a 76-89 lead. Instead of allowing time to run out, the “Chi Barbie” demanded the ball and purposely attacked the basket to either score or get fouled.
Angel Reese fouled with 6.4 left in game needing one point to continue the WNBA record of her 14th consecutive double-double. Steps to the line makes both. Streak continues and Sky win.
pic.twitter.com/gJ7Kh6pNjQ— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) July 10, 2024
Tina Charles’ foul allowed Reese to tally 11 points to extend her double-double record to 14 games. Caitlin Clark fans had a field day blasting Chicago and its rookie’s rookies effort to keep the streak going.
The ROTY Award is a race between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese
At the halfway point of the 2024 WNBA season, the Rookie of the Year award has become a battle royale between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. ESPN updated its rankings of the ROTY race with Reese coming out slightly ahead of Clark. But, there is still plenty of basketball left to be played and both are playing extremely well.
Reese’s WNBA record of 15 consecutive double-doubles is staggering while Clark has been conducting clinics on offense. The point guard became the first player in league history to have three straight games with 15 points and 13 assists.
Angel Reese has surpassed Caitlin Clark for the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s rookie of the year rankings. pic.twitter.com/30LZ36TYhn
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 11, 2024
While Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark will lead their respective teams, the fans will be eagerly watching the battle. Many of them will not hold back and will throw shots at the player they don’t want to win the ROTY award.
The All-Star Game, where Reese and Clark will be teammates, can’t come soon enough. It will be interesting to see how fans will react when both are playing for the same goal.
