Caitlin Clark was named WNBA Rookie of the Year by 66 out of 67 voters. Many of the 66 people who actually voted for her immediately declared their innocence in voting against her.
When Clark's winner was announced Thursday, it was revealed that Clark's rival, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, had cast one vote against her.
Multiple WNBA media members who voted for this year's award claimed on social media that they did not vote for Reese and instead voted for Clark.
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The voters who chose Reese had not identified themselves until the time of publication. The actions of voters who chose Mr Rees sparked controversy on social media. Multiple social media users criticized the decision.
Clark would have become the fifth WNBA player in league history to win the unanimous Rookie of the Year award, joining teammate Aliyah Boston, who won last season. 2018 league MVP A'ja Wilson. Elena Delle Donne In 2013. Statistically, Clark had the best rookie year of any player this year.
Inside the impact of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on men's basketball
In his first season in the WNBA, Clark broke multiple league and franchise records, including the WNBA's all-time single-season assists record, rookie scoring record, and most points scored in a single season by a guard.
Reese was considered a dark horse candidate for the honor next to Clark during the first few months of the season. However, his rookie season was cut short when he was injured on September 6 and underwent season-ending surgery on his wrist.
Clark widened his lead in nearly every statistical category in the weeks before and after Reese's season ended.
Prior to that, the Fever defeated the Sky in three out of four head-to-head matches this year. Reese scored more points than Clark in two of those meetings and grabbed more rebounds than Clark in all four meetings. Clark had more assists in all four games.
Angel Reese of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts to Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter of the 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (right). (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Clark led the Fever to the playoffs for the first time in eight years as the team's leading scorer.
Reese was the third-leading scorer on Chicago's team, but finished the season with a 13-27 record, the third-worst in the league, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
The only statistic where Reese outperformed Clark was in rebounds, with more than double the number of rebounds per game at 13.1 compared to Clark's 5.7. Reese has a natural height advantage at 6 feet 3 inches compared to the 6-foot Clark.
However, despite his height disadvantage, Clark held an advantage in points per game (19.2 to Reese's 13.6), assists (8.4 to Reese's 1.9), and blocks (0.7 to Reese's 0.5). Ta.
Like Clark, Reese also broke the WNBA single-season record in his rookie year, breaking the single-season record with 418 rebounds on September 2nd against the Minnesota Lynx. Unlike Clark, Reese was unable to hold onto that record to the end. of the season. After Reese underwent season-ending surgery, MVP A'ja Wilson broke Reese's record in the final week of the season, with Wilson recording his 419th rebound.
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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese walks on the court during the first half at Wintrust Arena on August 25, 2024 in Chicago. (Kamil Krzazynski/USA Today Sports)
Despite the statistical differences between Ms Clarke and Ms Rees, the Sky new player had more ardent supporters this year who argued for her case than Ms Clarke.
Former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah, a 6-foot-11 center who specializes in rebounding and domination in the paint, told Fox News Digital he would vote for Reese. beyond clark If he gets the floor during an interview on NBA Night at the US Open's Emirates Suite in early September, he will be named Rookie of the Year.
“My name is Angel Reese.” Noah said. “When I watch her play, it reminds me a lot of myself.”
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