Angel Reese gets ROTY support over Caitlin Clark from legend Dawn Staley

Angel Reese leads the ROTY race as of now with Caitlin Clark close behind.

Angel Reese gets ROTY support over Caitlin Clark from legend Dawn Staley

Angel Reese gets Rookie of the Year award support over Caitlin Clark from WNBA legend Dawn Staley

The race to be the WNBA Rookie of the Year is heating up. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are head and shoulders above all other rookies from this year’s draft class.

However, different analysts and players have differing views on who is leading the table. WNBA legend and NCAA championship-winning head coach Dawn Staley was also asked about her opinion. She was on her way back from the ESPYS when TMZ Sports caught up with her at the airport.

YouTube video
So, you going to try to put me in a controversy, right? They both are having great years. Don't get me wrong. If I had to pick a Rookie of the Year this time, today, it's Angel. Without a doubt. I mean what she's been able to do with the double doubles. But listen, the season is halfway through, and Caitlin is coming.
When asked about the race, Angel Reese replied

Dawn Staley made it clear that right now it is Angel Reese who is in the lead of the ROTY rankings. Her performances so far have put her at the top of the list. Her double-double streak might have ended today. But that does not take away anything from the fact that she has been playing at an elite level. Yes, she still needs to work on her shooting as it is hampering her score in nearly every game.

FS Video

But stat padding incident aside, evidence suggests Angel Reese has a sharp awareness for the ball. Which helps her grab those rebounds. The Chicago Sky has also structured their schemes to take advantage of her strength in the paint. All that said, Staley’s last line suggests Caitlin Clark is coming in hot.

Caitlin Clark is reeling in Angel Reese in the ROTY race

Dawn Staley might have a point here considering how the Indiana Fever rookie has been playing in the past few games. For one, she has herself been on a double-double streak of points and assists. Add to that, she became the first rookie in WNBA history to notch up a triple-double. What those records show is the difference in how she is playing now.

After struggling for much of the opening part of the season, it seems the Fever have figured out how to best use Clark. It was evident in their previous win against the Phoenix Mercury when Clark raced out to set a franchise record for assists in the first quarter. That helped her teammates get into the game quickly. That helped the team get into a rhythm and helped them hold off a late charge to win.

This method has helped the Indiana Fever win 9 of their last 15 games. A sharp contrast to losing 8 of their first 9 games. If Caitlin Clark continues this uptick in performance, the Rookie of the Year race might take a different turn after the WNBA season resumes after the Olympics.

In case you missed: