Breaking landmark WNBA information in every of her final 4 video games and main the Indiana Fever to its first playoff berth in eight years hasn’t closed the WNBA Rookie of the Yr debate for everybody.
Former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah advised Fox Information Digital he would vote for Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese over Clark for Rookie of the Yr if he had a say, throughout an interview at NBA Evening on the Emirates Suite on the U.S. Open on Wednesday.
“I might say Angel Reese,” Noah stated.
Noah’s reasoning for Reese will not be rooted in any statistical argument, nevertheless. The 6-foot-11 Noah likes the truth that the 6-foot-3 Reese performs extra equally to him than the 6-foot-0 Clark performs.
“After I take a look at her play, she jogs my memory a number of myself,” Noah stated.
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Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese (5) seems to be to move the ball in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces in the course of the first half at Wintrust Area. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Reese’s three-inch dimension benefit hasn’t put her in a greater tier than Clark in virtually all statistical output this yr. Clark has the higher averages by way of factors, assists, steals, blocks and each taking pictures share.
However Reese does have a drastic benefit by way of rebounds. With 13.2 rebounds per recreation, Reese is greater than doubling Clark’s present 5.8 per recreation.
In head-to-head matchups this yr, the Fever have overwhelmed the Sky three out of 4 instances. In two of these matchups, Reese put up extra factors than Clark whereas placing up extra rebounds than Clark in all 4 conferences. Clark put up extra assists in all 4 conferences.
Reese’s peak benefit over Clark has resulted within the Sky rookie having stronger finishes within the paint, and some very bodily blocks and block makes an attempt. Some cases have additionally resulted in some arduous fouls being known as in opposition to Reese for her protection on Clark. In a recreation on June 16, Clark was getting into for a layup, Reese didn’t fairly have the wingspan to dam the shot, however obtained a flagrant 1 when she hit Clark within the head from above as a substitute.
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In essentially the most well-known assembly between the 2 gamers – the 2023 NCAA girls’s title recreation – Reese used her superior dimension to out-duel Clark placing up 15 factors with 10 rebounds, whereas Clark shot 30 factors. Reese led LSU to a convincing 102-85 victory of Clark and Iowa.
Now, as professionals engaged in a Rookie of the Yr race, Clark’s superior offensive numbers and group success has put her in pole place to win the award with simply six video games left within the season.
Nonetheless, Reese has her supporters and will nonetheless obtain votes for the award by some.
Noah is a kind of, having boasted a more in-depth stat line to Reese’s than Clark’s throughout his profession as a defensive presence at middle. Having starred for the Chicago Bulls from 2007-16, Noah can also be open about his bias affecting his selection for the award.
Caitlin Clark drives to the basket in opposition to Chicago Sky guard Lindsay Allen in the course of the first half at Wintrust Area. Obligatory Credit score: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities)
“She’s Chicago Sky, I’m Chicago,” Noah stated.
Noah has seen what a transcendent younger participant who’s above their friends, at the very least on the time, seems to be like up shut. In 2009, when Derrick Rose got here to the Bulls because the No. 1 general choose within the draft, Noah watched his younger teammate put collectively a dominant Rookie of the Yr marketing campaign, then change into the youngest league MVP in 2011 on the age of twenty-two.
Nonetheless, even Noah might need to confess that Rose, at 6-foot-3 and recognized for his scoring, had far more in widespread with Clark than Reese in these days.
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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky look on in the course of the recreation on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
On Wednesday night time, Clark grew to become the quickest participant in WNBA historical past to achieve 100 3-pointers in a season within the second triple-double of her profession in opposition to the LA Sparks.
On Sunday in opposition to the Dallas Wings, Clark scored the 595th level of her profession, surpassing WNBA legend Tamika Catchings for essentially the most in a single season by a rookie in Fever historical past.
In Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Sky, Clark had the primary 30-point, 12-assist recreation in WNBA historical past whereas turning into simply the fifth participant, and first rookie, to document at the very least 30 factors and 10 assists in a recreation.
Simply three days earlier than that, Clark set the document for many made 3-pointers by a rookie, surpassing the mark initially set by the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard.
“That being stated, Caitlin Clark is a beast,” Noah stated after giving his argument for Reese as Rookie of the Yr. “She’s making this a a lot greater enterprise.”
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