Rebecca Lobo explains why Caitlin Clark is 'the favorite' to win 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year over Angel Reese

Caitlin Clark is only getting better as a pro, according to ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo and she’s certainly the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

It’s not that Clark’s just a standout rookie, she’s a standout player when you watch the tape. Despite a bad loss to Dallas Wednesday night, Clark put up 24 points, six rebounds and a WNBA record 19 assists.

So if you want to debate Clark versus Angel Reese for the award, good luck. Clark is well ahead right now.

“Going into the All-Star break, I certainly see Caitlin Clark as the favorite,” Lobo said on Get Up. “You talked about her accounting for more than 60 of her team’s points last night. She has scored or assisted on more points than any other player this season, she has scored or assisted on a higher percentage of her team’s points than any other player in the league. Not any other rookie in the league, any other player in the league.

“And considering that she’s doing this by getting more defensive attention than any player in the league. Greeny, Indiana has played the toughest strength of schedule to date. So right now because of what she’s doing on the offensive end of the floor, certainly my vote would go to Caitlin Clark.”

Caitlin Clark the favorite for WNBA Rookie of the Year

Clark received unprecedented defensive attention after what she did on offense at Iowa. But as Lobo evaluated the tape, Clark adjusted on the fly and improved her game over the last two months.

“I think last night was a perfect example of where we’ve seen her growth,” Lobo said. “The game has just slowed down. We saw early in the season with the amount of defensive attention she was getting, in particular on ball screens where she was getting blitzed, sometimes she was sped up, wasn’t able to find the perfect player to get the ball to, she has grown in that area.

“Her teammates have really grown, her coaching staff as well. And enabling her to play to those strengths, to understand the defensive attention that she’s getting. She’s not settling for nearly as many of the logo bombs as we became accustomed to in college. (Clark’s) looking to attack the basket more. If her three isn’t on early, she’s a little bit more judicious with where she uses it. Like last night she was only two-of-nine from three, but she was still able to score. She drove to the basket, she assisted her teammates, her adjustment has been remarkable and relatively quick.”

Over the course of 26 games this year, Clark averages 17.1 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, shoots 40.2% from the floor and 32.7% from three-point range. Clark also shoots 89.1% from the free throw line.