This year’s WNBA Rookie of the Year award has been seen as a battle between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Both have had huge successes throughout their first season, but in different categories, since they play different positions.

Clark had the highest profile coming into the WNBA, but at the beginning of the season she was playing very differently than how she played at Iowa. Recently she has had more success and had better games, including breaking the rookie assists and three-point records. 

After the Olympics, Clark showed why she was the number one pick in the draft. She has had two triple-doubles – double digits in points, assists, and rebounds.

Clark has also been one of Indiana Fever’s top contributors in almost every aspect, helping her team get into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Reese, meanwhile, started her rookie season off strong but is ending it unexpectedly. 

Reese broke the rookie record by having 26 double-doubles, as well as the rookie rebounding record. She also was a standout player for the Chicago Sky throughout the season.

But during the Sky’s recent game against Los Angeles, Reese went up for a layup, got fouled, and came down on her wrist. She is expected to have surgery and this has cut her rookie season short, even though she has had a historic year.

Her team will definitely be affected by her absence, as the Sky has not qualified for playoffs yet.

Due to Reese’s injury, the drama and speculation about who would win the Rookie of the Year award have died down. Both are very talented players and are deserving of recognition, but due to Reese’s absence, Clark is favored to win.