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.’
