Lisa Leslie Offers Bold Take on Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese Rookie of the Year Debate
WNBA legend and former Los Angeles Sparks star Lisa Leslie has weighed in on the hotly contested debate over who should take home this year’s Rookie of the Year Award. With less than three weeks left in the regular season, the race between Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky is tighter than ever, and Leslie’s perspective has added fuel to the conversation.
Both Clark and Reese have delivered extraordinary rookie campaigns, making history along the way. Clark, who leads the league in assists, and Reese, the league’s top rebounder, are both setting new benchmarks for what rookies can achieve in the WNBA. It’s rare to see two first-year players dominate such critical statistical categories, which has only intensified the debate over who is more deserving of the award.
Clark has been phenomenal, averaging 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. She recently broke the rookie record for the most three-pointers in a season, nailing her 98th shot from beyond the arc and surpassing Rhyne Howard’s previous mark of 85. On the other side, Reese has been a force in the paint, averaging 13.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. She also set a new WNBA record for the most rebounds in a single season with 418, overtaking Sylvia Fowles’ previous record of 404.
After watching both players in action on Sunday, September 1, Leslie voiced her admiration for their performances and suggested an unconventional solution to the Rookie of the Year debate—both players should share the award.
“I don’t care what comparisons you make, both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark deserve the Rookie of the Year Award!” Leslie declared. “The pressure and the weight of this season has forever changed the WNBA, and both rookies rose to the top and exceeded all our expectations! Take a bow, ladies .”
I don’t care what comparisons you make both @Reese10Angel and @CaitlinClark22 deserve the Rookie of the Year Award! The pressure and the weight of this season has forever changed the @WNBA and both rookies rose to the top and exceeded all our expectations! Take a bow ladies👏🏽👏🏽
— Lisa Leslie (@LisaLeslie) September 2, 2024
The rivalry between Clark and Reese dates back to their epic showdown in the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship game, where Reese’s LSU team triumphed over Clark’s Iowa squad with a 102-85 victory. In that game, Reese posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Clark put up 30 points, eight assists, and two rebounds.
As the regular season winds down, both players will continue to make their cases for Rookie of the Year. The Chicago Sky will next face the No. 4-seeded Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, September 3, at 10:00 p.m. ET, while the Indiana Fever will take on the No. 12-seeded Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Whether one of them takes home the award or they end up sharing it, there’s no doubt that both Clark and Reese have left an indelible mark on the WNBA this season.
