Rookie of the Year debate? Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese shut down talk before another battle

For many fans, these games were about Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. The two star rookies — who were both All-Stars in their first WNBA season — have both been terrific for their teams this year. Clark is averaging 18.7 points and 8.4 assists per game while Reese is putting up 13.3 points and 13.1 rebounds per night. They’ve got set league — not rookie — records already. Clark has the crown for most assists in a single game while Reese has the most consecutive double-doubles.

They are both going to be figures of the league for the next decade. And their success leads to a ton of debate around the Rookie of the Year honor. Clark’s team has a better record, and that has been a deciding factor for some. Neil Payne in ESPN recently ranked Reese as the top current rookie, but betting markets massively favor Clark. The legendary Lisa Leslie suggested that both should win.

These discussions can be tiring. It feels like the same conversation going around and around. And the two players involved aren’t interested in the conversation at all. Before Fever-Sky on Friday, Clark and Reese were both asked about the Rookie of the Year award and their counterpart.

“I think me and Angel would both give you the same answer. We don’t wake up and think about individual awards. I know that’s what all of you think we do,” Clark said before gesturing toward the reporters in the room. “I know we don’t. That’s what everybody wants to make this about. Both of our teams are competing for playoff spots. That’s our main focus. That’s a selfish thing to care about an individual award.”

Clark went on to explain that their focuses are on winning basketball games. “That was the same story for us when we were in college,” Clark said. “If you’re playing basketball to win individual awards, no matter what level you’re at, you’re doing it wrong. That’s not fun, and that’s not being a good teammate.”

The Indiana Fever rookie has rarely, if ever, mentioned any award or accomplishment without being asked directly about it. Her focus has been about winning games all season long — something Indiana is finally doing thanks to Clark and improved play from veterans.

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Just down the hallway in Wintrust arena, Reese was also speaking with reporters.

“I don’t think we … care about the Rookie of the Year. I think you guys have made it a big thing. We haven’t,” Reese said. “So just continue to work within our team. We both want to win. We’ve been wanting to win, and that’s what we’ve done in our collegiate careers.”

The Fever are currently in sixth place while the Sky sit in eighth, just barely. Both teams are fighting to reach the postseason, which made their battle Friday night even more fascinating.

“We’re just trying to do whatever it takes to win. That’s what’s important right now,” Reese said.

Both players made their stance clear: they don’t care. It’s a significant accomplishment, and both would certainly be happy if they were named the winner. But that isn’t their focus at all. Both Clark and Reese just want to win and help their teams be the best they can.

That night, it was the Indiana Fever who were the better group. Chicago was on fire early and led 24-11 after just under six minutes of play. It looked like they were going to run away with the action. But the game completely flipped after the Sky’s dominant start.

By the end of the first quarter, it was a three-point game. The Fever had started their comeback, and from the time they went down 13 until the final buzzer, they dominated. The final score was 100-81, meaning Indiana went on an 89-57 tear across the final 34 minutes.

Clark finished with a career-high 31 points and added 12 assists. Kelsey Mitchell continued her terrific run with 23 points, and Lexie Hull went 3/4 from deep as her hot streak remained. NaLyssa Smith changed the game in the third quarter and played an important role all night.

Reese, meanwhile, dealt with foul trouble. That altered her typical rotation. She finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds — the Sky were led by 20 points from Michaela Onyenwere and 19 from Lindsay Allen. They were missing Chennedy Carter, who has been excellent all season and scored 23 points why the Sky beat the Fever in June.

That win brought Indiana back to .500 for the first time in ages, especially this late in a season. They are rolling with the playoffs coming and have won six out of seven games since the Olympic game. Clark will be happy about that while Reese will hope she can pull Chicago into the postseason down the stretch.

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