Angel Reese playing for the Chicago Sky WNBA team in 2024. Photo by Emilee Chinn via Getty Images
Stars carry the game of basketball, with many being drawn to the sport due to its immense crop of talent. The WNBA is no exception to this, with its popularity having been skyrocketed in recent months thanks to its emerging fleet of stars.
Two of the WNBA’s newest stars are some of the biggest names in basketball right now: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. It is possible (and likely) that a sports fan has heard one or both of these names, without even watching a single game, or even knowing they are from the WNBA.
Since the two are rookies, it only makes sense that the two are the favorites to win the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year Award after the season’s conclusion. Only one can win it, however, and the favorite to do so is Caitlin Clark. But here is why Angel Reese could potentially pull off an upset.
Reese The Underdog
There is no doubt that Caitlin Clark is the current favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award, but Reese is the second-favorite. Though the gap is pretty significant, Reese still possesses good odds, at +600. These odds were previously +700 before lengthening, a good sign for her.
While Rookie of the Year races in the WNBA have hardly been close, this year is shaping up to potentially be that, and for good reason. While Clark has broken a number of rookie records, Reese has done her fair share of that, as well.
An issue and weakness that Clark faces in her game is turnovers. She averaged 5.6 per game, by far the most in the league. Her shooting is also down from what it was in college, particularly her three-point shooting, which is currently 32.7 percent, ranking 47th in the league.
As for Reese, her primary strength is double-doubles. She averaged that in college and is doing so on the professional court. She has already broken the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles, with 15 straight.
In her last game against the Phoenix Mercury, Reese recorded 19 points and 20 rebounds, while shooting 50 percent from the field. It was a staggering effort which ultimately ended in a Sky loss, but she became the fastest player (not just rookie, player) in WNBA history to reach 20 double-doubles, doing so in just 27 games.
Both Sides
Reese is leading the WNBA with 12.3 rebounds per game, which consists of an average of 5 offensive rebounds and 7.3 defensive rebounds per game. Both of those marks are by far the highest in the WNBA, with her offensive rebounds in particular being important as she gives her team five more possessions per game, increasing their chances of winning.
While that has not exactly worked out on a team scale, as the Sky are currently 11-16, Reese’s ability to put up both offensive and defensive rebounds relatively equally demonstrates her two-sided nature on the court, as she serves as a both offensive and defensive player, which is extremely valuable.
Her defense is also stellar, as she leads all rookies in that category, and her 1.5 steals per game is good for tenth-best in the entire league. Overall, she is averaging 13.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this season, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field, and just 20 percent from deep (though that isn’t her strong suit).
Overall, when examining the leaderboard, it is clear that Caitlin Clark is the favorite to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. But upsets have happened, and Reese has challenged Clark in more ways than one, being the closest comparable player to her. If anyone is going to snatch the award from her, it will be Reese.
