No two rookies from the same WNBA draft class have been in the front-running for the Rookie Year of the Year award in the past decade. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have been producing record-breaking performances, even before the season has reached the halfway point.
Many feel the two cannot be separated at this point. Due to this, ESPN’s latest rankings have created a furor on social media.
The backdrop is the previous game the Chicago Sky played. Many on the internet pointed out that it was evident that Angel Reese was being helped by her teammates and others to continue her double-double record. ESPN then decided to release their Rookie of the Year rankings based on advanced metrics.
The metrics showed that Angel Reese is the clear frontrunner. Their logic was based on the fact that her rebounding has helped her team to wins.
Angel Reese is currently leading the rebounds per game column of the WNBA stats sheets. There is no question about her motor. Add to that, she is playing strong and physical for a rookie. However, her below-average shooting for a big has led many to question if she is benefitting from collecting her own rebounds.
Caitlin Clark, on the other hand, has not shot anywhere close to her college efficiency. That and the costly turnovers have pushed the Indiana Fever guard down the Rookie of the Year voting. Nonetheless, she still sets up her teammates to win more than any other player in the league.
Fans point out Angel Reese’s numbers in Rookie of the Year race
ESPN’s arguments hold some logic at this stage. But fans are not sure. They are especially pointing out that Clark does not stat pad unlike Reese, whose last game made it clear that her teammates are helping her. Therefore, one rookie doing it all by herself against the other who is getting help has made the ESPN ranking feel biased.
That is what fans have been pointing out on social media ever since the broadcasting company published their rankings. Check out some of those reactions below;
Angel Reese is stat padder whole world saw it last game…
— RJ (@phisportfanatic) July 11, 2024She throws the ball off the backboard to herself
— Lebronin1 (@Lebronin1) July 11, 2024AR has overtaken CC cause @wnba, @espn, AR's opposing teams, refs, etc. r doing their best 2 steal the ROTY from the most deserving. Everyone knows that CC has faced defenses that have never in league history been so focused on 1 player. Yet she still breaking records every game.
— 1_truth_always (@1_truth_always) July 11, 2024Rating her first after stat padding when your team is up 3 possessions w/ 10 seconds left to barely keep your streak alive—while the other puts up bonkers numbers—is a disqualification in my book.
— Christopher The Warrior (@TheChrisMoreno) July 12, 2024Gotta go to the ADVANCED METRICS to make it work🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Priceless.
— VEIL RADIO (@VEILRADIO1) July 11, 2024I’m a Reese fan but the rebounding her own misses should knock her below Clark. It’s the way the get marked I get it but makes you wonder what Clark’s assists look like if we don’t count how many times the receiving player can’t handle the pass
— Eddie (@eddievillin) July 11, 2024How tf does advance metrics of someone who rebounds n shoots around basket help her get ahead of someone who literally does everything for their team?? Triple double means less then 13 double doubles? Double doubles that have happened before but no rookie ever got triple Double? https://t.co/5Hc8kwjhjL
— Benjamin Bricco (@bricks32) July 11, 2024The season has not even reached the halfway mark. With a month to rest and work with teammates, both rookies could have a far better second half of the WNBA season. Meaning, this race could turn out to be more of a spectacle for fans.
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