The WNBA Rookie of the Year is a two-horse race going into the All-Star and Olympics break.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese have each made robust circumstances for the award.
Clark is averaging 16.1 factors and seven.4 assists per recreation and simply recorded a triple-double, the primary for a rookie in WNBA historical past. Reese is the one rookie averaging a double-double with 14.1 factors and 11.9 rebounds per recreation and is on a record-breaking streak of consecutive double-doubles.
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Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, is seen through the recreation in opposition to the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 6, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman, who has been among the many followers tuning into the WNBA matchups this summer season, advised Fox News Digital who he’s selecting within the race.
“It’s so onerous as a result of they’re each breaking data,” Merriman stated. “This is the nice factor and I do know individuals don’t wish to hear me say this – irrespective of who you choose there’s gonna be an uproar. Three was an uproar when Caitlin Clark didn’t make the USA workforce. I feel whoever you choose there’s gonna be an uproar, which isn’t essentially a foul factor.
“Caitlin Clark is my favourite participant. I like the best way she’s dealt with herself. No matter what somebody stated, irrespective of which storyline, she’s at all times got here again with the precise reply. She’s my favourite participant.
“I feel you possibly can’t go flawed with you give it to Angel Reese.”
Merriman defined that he believes Clark is altering the sport for the long run, however Reese’s numbers proper now are simply too good.
“Angel Reese, what she’s doing proper now, and people numbers are historic, so you’ll virtually have to present it to her.”
Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, warms up earlier than the sport in opposition to the Seattle Storm on July 7, 2024 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. (Scott Eklund/NBAE through Getty Images)
FEVER COACH CHRISTIE SIDES COMPARES CAITLIN CLARK TO WNBA GREAT WHILE MAKING CASE FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The former San Diego Chargers linebacker added that the WNBA brass ought to be cultivating the recognition and storylines to assist enhance and keep the recognition they’re getting proper now.
“What Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have executed for the WNBA has been wonders. I feel that, I hate to say this, nevertheless it’s virtually like a Magic-Bird sort of feeling as a result of it’s a type of issues the place all this commotion nonetheless brings eyeballs,” he stated. “People nonetheless watch the sport to see storylines. The cause why the NFL is so large is as a result of they at all times create storylines – this quarterback was drafted over that quarterback, that quarterback had this many Super Bowls. The NFL is nice as a result of they make storylines.
“My solely hope is whoever is main the WNBA proper now so far as increase the storylines, increase the model, I hope they don’t drop the ball. This is the proper alternative to take the WNBA to new heights. Build upon these storylines, main as much as a recreation. They should benefit from this now and so they can’t drop the ball.”
Merriman stated the recognition the league is constructing proper now might result in a larger incentive not just for the WNBA as an entire, however for the gamers as nicely.
Shawne Merriman attends the fifteenth annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards at Sahara Las Vegas on Dec. 14, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
“This is the proper alternative to alter girls’s sports activities without end, in the event that they do it proper,” he stated. “They bought the proper situation with Angel Reese, with Caitlin Clark, with (Las Vegas Aces star) A’ja Wilson. You have about 5-10 superstars you could create these storylines, these build-ups and take the WNBA to new heights to allow them to get the cash that they deserve.
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“And I hope that the leaders, the execs, whoever’s in cost proper now, takes benefit of this second as a result of it gained’t occur once more for 20 or 30 years.”
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