Shaquille O’Neal picks ‘definite’ favorite in Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese Rookie of the Year race.
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal believes Angel Reese is ‘definitely’ leading Caitlin Clark in their hotly-contested race for Rookie of the Year.
Reese and Clark are the leading contenders for this year’s rookie award in the WNBA amid their sensational respective campaigns for the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever.
Just a few months into the season, Reese currently ranks second in the league for rebounds (11.9) behind only Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson (12).
Clark, meanwhile, is the highest-scoring rookie in the league with an average of 16.8 points per game, while she is also out in front altogether in the assist charts with 7.8 per game.
Opinion is divided on who will come out on top in the Rookie of the Year running – but Shaq has named Reese as his winner if it was decided right now.
The basketball legend named Reese as his winner if the WNBA award was handed out now
‘I’m not just saying this because she went to LSU,’ O’Neal, who attended the same college as Reese, said on ESPN’s Sports Center.
‘[But] I think she’s definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race.
‘I give the vote to Angel.’
Despite picking Reese as his Rookie of the Year, Shaq still heaped praise on Clark amid her record-breaking season so far in Indiana.
‘Caitlin is a fabulous player, the female Steph Curry,’ he continued. ‘They [Clark and Reese] have done a lot for the game.
‘Caitlin and Angel, because of social media and all the media outlets, they really brought the game where it should’ve been 10 years ago.
‘So I’m really happy for women’s basketball, they always play hard and their fundamentals are great.
“[Angel Reese is] definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race.”
Shaq says that Caitlin Clark is a “fabulous player” but his vote for ROTY is for Angel Reese right now 👀 — espnW (@espnW) July 17, 2024
Reese and Clark are the leading contenders for this year’s rookie award in the WNBA
‘But listen, Caitlin Clark is a fabulous player, Angel Reese is a fabulous player… but Imma give it to Angel Reese right now.’
South Carolina’s March Madness-winning coach Dawn Staley also agreed with Shaq last week in tipping Reese as her current Rookie of the Year.
‘They both are having great years, don’t get me wrong,’ Staley told TMZ Sports.
‘If I had to pick a Rookie of the Year at this time, today… it’s Angel. Not a doubt. [Because of] what she’s been able to do with the double-doubles.’
Caitlin Clark Nearing WNBA Suspension After ‘Disrespectful’ Technical Foul.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark put up yet another incredible performance against the Seattle Storm on Sunday, August 18. Not only did she obliterate the WNBA’s rookie season assist record, registering her 225th dime in the second quarter, Clark also finished 23 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
Clark’s passion for the game is always on full display during big games like this, however, sometimes her intensity gets the star into trouble. After missing a shot, the 22-year-old slapped the padded stanchion of the basket in frustration and the ref issued a technical foul, her fifth of the season.
If Clark earns two more technical fouls, she will receive a one-game suspension. The Fever still has 12 more regular season games after defeating the Storm 92-75.
Losing Clark for even one game would be a devastating turn of events for a team on the precipice of clinching a spot in the WNBA Playoffs. With a 13-15 record, Indiana sits in 7th place. The top 8 teams make the postseason.
Clark made it clear she thought the call was bogus. “I got a technical for basically being mad at myself,” she told reporters. “[The ref] told me it was disrespectful to the game of basketball,” which left the rookie shaking her head.
Looking at the silver lining, “I think he fired me up to continue to play a lot harder. I thought we got a lot better after he did that so I wanna thank him for that.”
If the 22-year-old garners more than seven technical fouls, she’ll receive another suspension at 9 techs, then 11, and so on. While numerous of Clark’s technicals have been questioned, the foul she received against the Storm left fans and analysts shaking their heads.
Recruiting analyst Sam Kayser posted, “I just witnessed one of the worst technical fouls ever called on Caitlin Clark just now. Misses shot on one end, comes back on defense, ball goes out of play, slaps stanchion in frustration, gets called for a tech. Insane.”
One fan posted, “Caitlin Clark just got a technical for hitting a pad because she was angry at herself for missing a shot. WNBA REFS ARE COOKED.”
Next up, the Fever travel to take on the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, August, 24.
