WNBA fans have had mixed reactions to Lisa Leslie calling for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to share the Rookie of the Year award .
The pursuit of the award between the two rookie sensations - who have both broken records and changed the landscape of the WNBA - couldn’t be more thrilling. Clark and Reese have continuously smashed feats throughout the season and both players even broke more records at the weekend.
Reese set a new all-time high for season rebounds in the WNBA as she registered her 405th rebound of the season in the Chicago Sky ’s defeat against the Minnesota Lynx – eclipising the previous mark which stood at 404 by Sylvia Fowles in 2018. Just hours later, Clark scored 28 points in 37 minutes on-court in the Indiana Fever ’s victory against the Dallas Wings , smashing a Fever franchise record set by Tamika Catchings in 2002 for the highest rookie scoring mark in a season with the former Iowa put up her 595th career point.
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Such has been the success on and off the court for the two rookies, two-time WNBA champion with the Los Angeles Sparks and current Triplets coach suggested that the two should be given a joint award.
Taking to X, Leslie wrote: “I don’t care what comparisons you make both @Reese10Angel and @CaitlinClark22 deserve the Rookie of the Year Award! The pressure and the weight of this season has forever changed the @WNBA and both rookies rose to the top and exceeded all our expectations! Take a bow ladies.”
A number of fans in the comments section agreed with her, as one wrote: “That’s true. They have done amazing things for the WNBA as a whole.” A second added: “Congrats to both on spectacular seasons!” While a third backed Leslie, saying: “I agree fully!”
However, the feeling wasn’t shared among the vast majority of the comments section, as many accounts slammed her for attempting to make the honor a “participation award.” One fan replied: “Lisa, we have a lot of respect for you but let’s be serious for a second,” with a second adding: “It’s not a consolation award. Clark and Reese are miles apart. There’s no comparison so please be serious."
A third agreed that Clark would be the deserving winner, writing: “Nah you be having good takes but this was a terrible one like really bad. You got one player that’s All WNBA first team and the other is a roll player that bring no winning basketball to they team. Stop it.” While another account argued: “Ummm, no. can each teams record last year and now this year. Clark has made her team much better. Reese hasn't.”
However, both players have dismissed the award as something they're aiming to win. Reese said of her battle with Clark: “We don't either care about the Rookie of the Year but you guys, I think you guys have made the big thing. We haven't.
“So I just continue to work within our team. We both want to win. We've been wanting to win and that's what we've done in our collegiate career,” Reese added. “We played against each other last year and the year before in the March Madness tournament. So we're just trying to do whatever it takes to win. That's what's important right now.”
Clark echoed Reese's comments, saying: "I think me and Angel would both give you the same answer," Clark said. "You don't wake up and think about individual awards. I know that's what all of you think we do. I know we don't. That's what everybody wants to make this about.
"Both of our teams are competing for playoff spots, that's our main focus. That's a selfish thing to just care about an individual award. And she would give you the same exact answer. I'm sure she has given you the same exact answer. If you're playing basketball to win individual awards, no matter what level you're at, you're doing it wrong."
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