WNBA legend Sue Bird has a straightforward formula when it comes to picking the Rookie of the Year.
Bird said she leans more on the “eye test” over individual stats or team record, and that’s leading her to pick the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark over the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese this year.
Reese arguably built up an early lead on Clark in the ROY race after recording a WNBA record 15 straight double-doubles. A 6-9 start was also a little better than many were expecting from the Sky, and Reese had a big role in that.
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Now, Clark has closed the gap and potentially jumped ahead thanks to her and the Fever finding their footing. In her last 10 games before the midseason break, Clark averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 11.4 assists, and that stretch includes dishing out 19 assists in a loss to the Dallas Wings.
The Fever have jumped ahead of the Sky by one game in the standings as well to give a further boost to Clark’s candidacy.
Individual awards are always subjective, and that’s particularly true with Rookie of the Year because there can be so many different ways by which to judge the contenders. One downside to Bird’s metric, though, is that any “eye test” is bound to favor a dynamic high-volume scorer and playmaker over a power forward who excels in doing the dirty work inside.
But there are certainly other factors that point to Clark as the slight favorite right now.
Sky’s Chennedy Carter Argues Angel Reese is WNBA Rookie of the Year
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter made the case for Angel Reese to be named the WNBA Rookie of the Year on Friday night.
Angel Reese did it again. On Friday night, the WNBA rookie recorded her 12th straight double-double, leading the Chicago Sky to an 88-84 victory over the Seattle Storm. It was more evidence that the forward has made a strong case to be the league’s Rookie of the Year, according to teammate Chennedy Carter.
Reese concluded Friday’s game with 27 points and 10 rebounds, adding another double-double to her impresive streak. After the game, Carter was asked about the impact the LSU rookie has made for Chicago.
Carter then campaigned for Reese to be the Rookie of the Year.
“Barbie’s Rookie of the Year,” Carter said. “There’s no other way to put it. She goes out, she does her work every single night, no matter what team we’re facing. I’m telling you, Barbie is Rookie of the Year.”
Reese’s double-double wasn’t her only major feat on Friday. She also knocked down her first shot from behind the 3-point line in her WNBA career. The forward buried the shot late in the second quarter, giving her 16 points in the first half.
Through the first 19 games of the season, Reese is averaging 13.9 points and 11.7 rebounds per contest. She’s currently the only rookie averaging a double-double in the WNBA this season.
Reese also received WNBA Rookie of the Month honors for June after recording 10 consecutive double-doubles in the month. She finished the month averaging averaging 14.5 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Reese will be in contention to win another Rookie of the Month award if she keeps posting double-doubles in July.
