Yahoo Sports basketball analyst Isis “Ice” Young and women’s basketball writer Cassandra Negley give their thoughts on who will win the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
Video script
Now let’s take a look at the Rookie of the Year competition.
It was a hot topic.
Well, in the first half of the season, when I had the ball in front of me and I was filling it.
Well, for me it was a pretty easy choice to choose Caitlin Clarke.
She is the fourth player in league history to average 15 points, five rebounds and five assists per game.
She ranks fifth all-time in assists with 8.19 per game.
I know Angel Reese will be competing with some of the best players in the league at the center position.
I don’t really like the shooting percentage.
Here’s what I have to say about competition:
The reason Caitlin Clarke’s basement is this high is because we expect so much from her.
On the other hand, in Angela Reese’s case, many people did not expect her to do as well as she did now.
She’s doing incredibly well, I think, better than a lot of people expected.
But I think that’s what creates the buzz in the competition.
I think Kaitlyn will have a bigger role for the team because she’s at the point guard position.
She doesn’t get up from the floor.
So when you look at that, yes, I agree that our expectations for her are higher.
Well, it’s also because she’s the most points scored in college basketball history.
So now we think she must be really great and awesome.
And my biggest concern, especially with Caitlyn, is her sales numbers.
In fact, I think she averages 5.6 turnovers per game.
One game is astronomical, and that’s a lot for a point guard whose team is currently ranked in the top eight and could make the playoffs.
What I’m looking for from Kaitlyn later in the season to solidify her Rookie of the Year contention is for her to be consistent in taking care of the basketball, especially helping the team make the playoffs.
But the difference is that I think Caitlyn has the upper hand over Angel Reese right now.
