Caitlin Clark is now the clear favorite for ROY over Angel Reese. What’s behind it? She’s leading the Fever to wins.
CHICAGO — The competition for Rookie of the Year is far from the thoughts of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. They both claim their sole focus is on winning.
In that regard, Clark is taking the lead, a gap that widens with each game.
Clark achieved a season-best 31 points while also contributing 12 assists for her 11th double-double on Friday night. Meanwhile, Reese recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds. However, what’s truly significant is the number six — representing the rank the Indiana Fever climbed to in the playoff race after defeating the Phoenix Mercury 100-81.
Chicago currently stands eighth, in a precarious position after suffering five consecutive losses and facing challenges on all fronts.
“We don’t wake up thinking about individual accolades. I understand that’s your perspective,” Clark said ahead of the game. “What everyone wants to highlight is that both our teams are vying for playoff positions. That’s our primary goal.
“Our priority is winning basketball games. It’s that straightforward,” Clark continued. “Winning is the only thing that counts.”
Clark and Reese share a connection akin to past legends Magic and Bird, first through their college rivalry — Reese’s LSU claimed the national title against Clark’s Iowa in 2023, while Clark’s Hawkeyes eliminated Reese’s LSU on their path to the championship game this year — and now through their respective careers in the WNBA.
Despite Reese being drafted seventh, six spots behind Clark, both have emerged as exceptional talents in the league. They fill venues almost everywhere, generating impressive ratings and attracting numerous sponsorships.
Moreover, they are both rewriting the record books.
Clark has already broken WNBA rookie records for assists and 3-pointers while leading the league in assists this season. Meanwhile, Reese’s final rebound on Friday night pushed her to 399 for the season, surpassing Tina Charles’ rookie benchmark, and her 23rd double-double established a new WNBA rookie record.
However, statistics are not everything.
Clark and Reese were both high draft picks, expected to uplift their teams out of the WNBA’s lower ranks and into playoff contention, eventually aiming for titles.
Undoubtedly, Clark has made more progress in this area. She and the Fever have bounced back from a rough start, primarily due to Clark finally forging chemistry with her teammates.
Clark faced challenges early on, having barely had a training camp before jumping into a challenging schedule. Anyone familiar with basketball knows that a point guard needs to understand their teammates’ tendencies — from how they prefer to receive the ball to their ability to handle fast passes.
Until this chemistry is established, mistakes are bound to occur.
The Fever began with a 1-8 record, and Clark recorded 15 games with six or more turnovers prior to the Olympic break. She also struggled to find her shooting rhythm, managing better than 50% success only twice in the initial month.
However, Clark and the Fever gradually adjusted. Since June 16, Clark has scored in double digits in every game, achieving a double or triple-double ten times. The Olympic break served as a valuable second training camp for the Fever.
The difference is evident. Indiana has won three consecutive games and five of its last six. On Friday, the Fever recorded assists on 26 of their 32 baskets, with only 11 turnovers, allowing the Sky just five points off those mistakes.
“It’s really about time,” Clark stated. “You need time to understand your teammates. It’s a two-way street — they need to understand you, and I need to understand them. It took us some time, but I’ll get more comfortable as I play more games.”
The Sky’s struggles cannot solely be attributed to Reese. The team’s offensive capabilities are limited, especially after losing a key player pre-Olympic break, and they’ve yet to figure out how to clinch tight games. Chicago has lost six games by four points or fewer, including three during their current losing streak.
Against the Fever on Friday, the Sky initially led by 13 points in the first quarter but ended up losing by 19. Even in the closing moments of the game, Chicago had to score 10-2 in garbage time just to narrow the final score.
“We struggle with executing down the stretch, and that’s something we need to improve,” Reese remarked before the game. “None of us like this feeling of losing.”
Both Clark and Reese are on the path to long and prosperous careers. Yet, they will always be compared to one another, and for this season, Clark stands as the clear frontrunner.
Follow YSL News Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.