Former WNBA All-Star Sends Strong Message Over Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark Voting Controversy
It comes as no surprise that Angel Reese was trending on social media right after it was announced that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year. After all, the Chicago Sky forward was the biggest threat to Clark’s ROTY claim all year long.
Reese made even more headlines when it was revealed that it was she who denied Clark of winning the ROTY title unanimously. Technically, however, it was not the former LSU superstar who prevented Clark from a unanimous win. It was, in fact, one out of the 67 voters who decided to give their vote to Reese for the Rookie of the Year trophy.
The hosts of ESPN’s WNBA Countdown weren’t too pleased with this development. Former WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike made her feelings known about it as she sent a strong message amid the voting controversy.
“She should have been a unanimous Rookie of the Year,” claimed Ogwumike. “… Ever since Angel Reese had that injury, to me, and also coming off the Olympic break, Caitlin Clark separated herself. She should have been unanimous.”
Ogwumike’s co-host, Andraya Carter, chimed in with her thoughts on the matter. In her belief, the lone voter should reveal himself/herself.
“This is why we would love to the WNBA make voting not anonymous,” Carter said. “Because if you were the person who had that one vote, you should just be able to stand on it, and we should know who you are.”
Ogwumike agreed with Carter’s proposal while also adding a quip aimed at the unanimous voter: “Stand on it.”
At the end of the day, it’s still Clark who’s the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, and nothing is going to change that. However, more than a few folks out there — including these ESPN hosts — clearly believe that there’s something wrong with how the voting system works.
Whether or not the WNBA and league commissioner Cathy Engelbert heed their call, however, remains to be seen.