After the first overall pick, Aliyah Boston became the 2023 unanimous ROTY, it was time for Caitlin Clark to replicate the same. Though she was a number one pick and won the ROTY by a landslide, she failed to convert it unanimously.
Receiving 66 of the 67 votes, Clark lost one vote, which could have etched her name next to her Fever teammate in a historic win over her rival Angel Reese. The Sky No. 5 has now come up with a cryptic tweet that many say is a slight dig on the point guard.
“i really just be minding my business cause it’s a lot to mind😉,” Reese tweeted on Saturday. Notably, if fans are to be believed then Reese might be subtly pointing out that she deserved a place in the ROTY competition, especially since she stopped Clark’s historic win. And despite doing that, she is unconcerned looking only to do her work that has made noise all the while.
The voters comprise two local journalists from each market along with WNBA writers, broadcasters, and reporters. Since there were 24 market voters, the number of total national voters was 43. And one of them thought that Reese deserved to give Clark a tough competition. While the No. 22 broke many records this year, Reese did not do as much but still established her mark with her double-doubles.
She surpassed Candace Parker with the most consecutive double-doubles in a singular season (15). Next, she also had the highest rebounds average with 13.1, standing next to Wilson with the second-highest total rebounds in a single season, which may be due to her untimely season-ending wrist injury. Else she could have stood firm in the first place. To top that, Reese also had the most double-doubles by a rookie. Nonetheless, when she received a vote, Clark fans were annoyed and they blamed many journalists for the same.
Caitlin Clark is at peace despite enraged fans
When the Iowa alum could not repeat the heroics of Boston in winning the ROTY unanimously, her fans looked baffled. They took to social media platforms to blame certain journalists. Many believed that Cindy Brunson, a Phoenix Mercury reporter, could have voted against the Fever rookie, specifically so because she was not the greatest Clark supporter. She has, on numerous occasions, spoken against Clark, which has also led to a lot of backlash. However, clearing her name, Brunson tweeted “You are so sad. I don’t have a WNBA Awards vote.”
Some voters stepped up spontaneously to keep the shade away. These were Terrika Foster-Brasby, Khristina Williams, and Nick Hamilton. Two of them shared their voting slips to pacify hurt fans. Foster-Brasby had previously in September shared her voting choice, but once again presented the same after Clark’s debacle. “Just so we’re clear… it wasn’t me. I voted for CC. So don’t blow me up or call me a hater cause IT WASNT TERRIKA,” she captioned the tweet. Following the same example, Williams and Hamilton also confirmed that they had Clark on their voting list. But despite so many rumors circulating, Clark looked to be at peace and thanked her supporters.
“I am incredibly honored to be named Rookie of the Year, but more than that, I am grateful to everyone that supported me throughout this past season – my family and friends, my teammates, the Fever organization and everyone that cheered us on all season,” Clark said in her statement. Plus once the Fever’s run was over, she also paid her gratitude to her followers and revealed that she would be meeting them next season.
What their rivalry unfolds in the next season will be worth a watch. Until then, we can catch Angel Reese on her podcast, her social platforms, and of course the Unrivaled League. As for Caitlin Clark, the fans will have to wait longer as the WNBA ROTY has ascertained that she will not be touching basketball until the next training season.
