ESPN commentator Monica McNutt drew criticism after explaining why she chose Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese as the WNBA Rookie of the Year award over Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.
McNutt said on “Get Up” on Friday that he selected Reese for the award because of the Sky’s ranking in the WNBA standings.
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Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
“I’m going to choose my Rookie of the Year based on ranking this year because I think ranking is important in measuring impact,” McNutt said. “The Sky are in the playoffs right now, so in my opinion, I’d have to choose Angel Reese.”
McNutt also noted that at the time he spoke on the ESPN show, Reese’s double-double record was 11. He also noted that at the time Reese was selected, the team did not have any All-Star players.
As for Indiana, McNutt said the Fever already has the fundamentals in place: Aliyah Boston was last season’s No. 1 draft pick and the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, and Kelsey Mitchell is already averaging nearly 20 points per game.
Angel Reese of the Sky and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever during a match at Wintrust Arena on June 23, 2024 in Chicago. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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But fans who have been watching the WNBA this season for Clark and Reese disagreed with McNutt’s reasoning and took to social media to say so.
Since McNutt’s comments, Clark became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double, while Reese extended her double-double streak to 12 games.
The Sky’s Angel Reese is double teamed by the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Narissa Smith at Wintrust Arena on June 23, 2024 in Chicago. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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As of Sunday, both teams were ranked in the top eight of the WNBA standings and expected to make the playoffs.
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