Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The two frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year award battled it out on Friday as Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever beat Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky 100-81.
Clark outplayed Reese in the win, picking up 31 points, 12 assists and four rebounds while hitting five threes on the night.
Clark set a pair of records in the win, passing Ticha Penicheiro for the most games with 10 or more assists by a rookie in WNBA history with nine and becoming the first player in WNBA history with 23-plus points and 12-plus assists.
New day, new record 🔥
With her 10th assist of the night, Caitlin Clark passes Ticha Penicheiro for the most 10+ AST games by a rookie in WNBA history with 9!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/ETb6gYXAqT
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 31, 2024
Caitlin Clark drops a career-high 31 points & 12 assists in the win over Chicago.
first player with a 30+ PTS, 12 AST & 5 3PM game in WNBA history.
WNBA-leading 11th double-double by a guard this season.
Rookie of the Year. pic.twitter.com/A1T6ETDaxR
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 31, 2024
Reese finished with 10 points and 11 boards, also setting two records for the most double-doubles by a rookie with 23 and the most rebounds by a rookie with 399.
ONE OF ONE.
With her 23rd double-double of the season, Angel Reese passes Tina Charles for the most by a rookie in WNBA history 🔥#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/lGRh1irCaA
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 31, 2024
A rebounding machine 💪
With her 11th rebound of the night, Angel Reese passes Tina Charles for the most rebounds by a rookie in WNBA history!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/t22dVmpvea
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 31, 2024
Clark likely had the edge over Reese coming into the matchup, but after she outperformed Reese in the win fans officially declared that the Rookie of the Year race is over.
This season, Clark is averaging 18 points, 8.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds, and her game has been even better since returning from the Olympic break. While Clark has been better this year, Reese is also having a strong year, putting up 13.3 points and 12.9 boards per game.
While the social media world is bound to chime in on the Rookie of the Year debate, Clark clarified before the game that both her and Reese’s focuses are on winning games.
“I think me and Angel would both give you the same answer,” Clark said when asked about the topic on Friday, per the Indianapolis Star’s Evan Frank. “We don’t wake up and think about individual awards. I know that’s what all of you think we do. I know we don’t. That’s what everybody wants to make this about. Both of our teams are competing for playoff spots. That is our main focus.”
With the win, Indiana improved to 16-16 on the year and is now tied with the Phoenix Mercury, who are in sixth place in the WNBA standings. The Sky dropped to 11-20 but are still in playoff position in eighth place.
