Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two highly touted rookies in the WNBA, have been at the center of the Rookie of the Year race all season. However, both players have made it clear that they are not concerned about the individual accolade and are solely focused on helping their teams make the playoffs.
In their most recent matchup, Clark’s Indiana Fever dominated the Chicago Sky, with Clark leading the way with a season-high 31 points. She was incredibly efficient, shooting 8 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Clark also showcased her playmaking ability, dishing out 12 assists while only committing three turnovers. Since the Olympic break, Clark has been on a tear, averaging 24 points and 8.5 assists per game.
On the other side, Reese had a quieter night, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. However, her shooting struggles have been evident since the break, although she is still averaging 12.1 points and an impressive 16.1 rebounds per game. In fact, Reese recently surpassed Tina Charles for the most rebounds by a rookie, with a total of 399.
The Fever’s victory over the Sky propelled them past the Phoenix Mercury for sixth place in the standings. Indiana has been particularly successful against Phoenix, winning all three of their head-to-head matchups. On the other hand, the Sky find themselves in eighth place and are only half a game ahead of the Atlanta Dream for the final playoff spot. However, Chicago holds the head-to-head tiebreaker against Atlanta.
The rivalry between Clark and Reese began during their college days, where they faced off in intense matchups in the NCAA tournament. That rivalry has carried over to the WNBA, generating excitement and intrigue for fans. Despite the attention, both players remain focused on the task at hand and are determined to help their teams win games.
In their recent contest, there were no major fireworks or controversies. However, with just under four minutes left in the game, there was a collision between Clark and Sky guard Diamond DeShields, resulting in a flagrant-1 foul. Clark calmly sank both free throws before exiting the game for good.
Overall, the Rookie of the Year race between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has been a hot topic throughout the season. While both players claim not to care about the individual award, their performances on the court speak for themselves. Clark’s scoring and playmaking abilities have been impressive, while Reese’s rebounding prowess has been unmatched by any other rookie. With the playoffs approaching, both rookies are focused on helping their teams succeed in the postseason.