Angel Reese put up a fight.
Not only did the LSU-turned- Chicago Sky forward establish herself as a bona fide star in the WNBA , but she is perhaps the league’s finest rebounder . Earning such a revered reputation for herself already is no mean feat, and she deserves every bit of acclaim coming her way.
In almost any of the other 26 years of the WNBA’s existence, Reese would likely win Rookie of the Year honors. But this year is not one of those years. This year belongs to Caitlin Clark .
Clark arrived amid a tsunami of anticipation and expectation the likes of which never seen in professional women’s basketball. She was expected to waltz into the WNBA and immediately become one of the league’s best players, leading to being the subject of rough treatment from opponents. Rookies must face adversity and walk through the fire, but her rough on-court treatment sparked fierce debate surrounding just how hot the coals are supposed to be.
Not only did Clark emerge from the flames untouched, but she firmly had the throne in her sights. The 22-year-old has been at her spellbinding best since the Olympics break - in which she was inexplicably omitted from Team USA selection. Ultimately, it took Clark just under 30 games to become one of the best players in the WNBA.
Clark’s rookie season started slowly; her Indiana Fever started the year 1-8 during a ridiculously condensed opening schedule, and the guard struggled with scoring efficiency and turnovers. But as the U.S. won another gold medal in Paris, Clark received the rest she needed and deserved.
Now, Clark’s Fever have raised the temperature. Now, she is the fire all players must pass through.
Indiana is 5-1 out of the Olympic break to sit sixth in the WNBA standings. The Fever offense is scoring 110.7 points per 100 possessions over that stretch - the best mark in the WNBA. The franchise is also fourth in offensive efficiency over the season.
Since the Olympic break, Clark has increased both her scoring and field goal attempts while continuing to improve her shooting percentages, all amid a historic run regarding assists. She has elevated her game, while also maintaining her rebounding, steals, and blocks as well as her turnover rate.
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Across her rookie season, Clark is averaging 18.7 points per game along with a league-leading 8.4 assists. She also leads the WNBA in three-pointers made, highlighting her game-breaking ability has transitioned from college to the pros.
However, it isn’t even Clark’s shooting that is her biggest weapon. For all of her accolades as a prolific scorer and deadly deep shooter, her total mastery of tempo and playmaking has truly inspired the Fever. Defenses tremble the second the NCAA all-time leading scorer passes halfcourt, and she uses their fear to impose her will on the game via her immaculate passing vision and infectious confidence, which has spread to her teammates.
She posted the first-ever triple-double by a rookie and set the record for most assists in a WNBA game when she dropped 19 dimes in the Fever's loss to the Dallas Wings . In last week’s win over Reese’s Sky, Clark scored a career-best 31 points and 12 assists, marking the first 30-point, 12-assist game in WNBA history. She is now just the fifth player in NBA history - and the first rookie - to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game.
Look, Angel Reese has had a brilliant season. She set the record for the longest single-season double-double streak in WNBA history and broke the WNBA single-season rebounding record held by Sylvia Fowles. But Clark winning the Rookie of the Year award is all but a formality, and it’s obvious why: while the WNBA crowns a Rookie of the Year each season, the league has never experienced a Caitlin Clark before.
Unfortunately for the other 12 WNBA teams, Clark has a whole career ahead of herself. The Rookie of the Year-elect is just getting started.
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