Caitlin Clark named WNBA rookie of the year, ending season-long debate

[RandySF]

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was named WNBA rookie of the year Thursday, providing a resolution to a fierce debate that raged among media members and fans throughout the season.

Clark beat out Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, whom she faced twice in the NCAA tournament, in a poll of 67 sportswriters and broadcasters, who were asked to select a single winner rather than rank a list of candidates. The 22-year-old guard received 66 votes while Reese received one. The WNBA does not make public the names of award voters and their selections. Clark was previously named the Associated Press’s rookie of the year in unanimous fashion last month.

“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 a statement. “I am so proud of what we accomplished and so excited for what the future holds.”

Clark and Reese were also named to the WNBA all-rookie team alongside Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/10/03/caitlin-clark-rookie/

[ProfessorGAC]

1. I Think The Article Is A Little Slanted

I know it was out there, but no serious person ever thought Reese had a chance to win this award.
Clark made her team much better than last year Reese did not.
Reese set rebounding records, but lots if offensive rebounds while playing fir the team with the 2nd worst shooting percentage in the league.
Nobody on the Sky was a better player this year because of Angel's presence.
3 Fever players had career highs in either scoring or shooting percentage.
I question the basketball acumen of any observer who thought there was even a 2 person race here.
The one person who voted fir Reese should have their vote for these awards taken away. Seems like a pointless "protest" vote, but I can't imagine what they were protesting.

[Dr. Strange]

2. It was barely a debate during the first half of the season.

After the Olympic break, there was no debate at all.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. There Was A Debate

There shouldn't have been, but there was.
I agree that after the Olympic break games, the debate was silenced.
But, there was a lot of talk, pre-break, that Reese was a viable choice.
I thought it was wrong, but it was being discussed.
Happened nearly every day on NBA Today.

[hawkeye21]

4. There was no season-long debate . . . except in haters' heads

The WNBA was dead until Caitlin Clark showed up and breathed life into its morbid body. No other rookie, and few other players--as Clark's selection to the All-WNBA first team would attest--have had such an impact on an organization in their first year.

Debating whether Clark was the ROY would be akin to debating whether you should vote for Trump or Harris. You can debate it, I guess, but ALL the evidence is on one side.