Basketball fans are teeing off on a WNBA legend over her controversial take on rookie superstars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, is a virtual lock to win Rookie of the Year honors. The 22-year-old is playing like an MVP candidate, averaging 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Angel Reese broke the WNBA rebounds single-season record on Sunday against the Minnesota Lynx, surpassing the mark of 404 that Sylvia Fowles set in 2018. Reese is already up to 418 on the year.
After Reese broke the record, Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time WNBA Champion Lisa Leslie took to X/Twitter and stated that both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese deserve to win Rookie of the Year honors:
Needless to say, plenty of fans weren’t buying Leslie’s hot take:
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are both having remarkable and historic rookie seasons, but it’s hard to argue that the Chicago Sky star will win the award over the Iowa product.
The Fever haven’t finished above .500 since 2015, and they last made the postseason in 2016. Clark joined an Indiana team that went 6-16, 6-26, 5-31 and 13-27 over the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have played significant parts in growing the WNBA this year, and they’ll continue to do so for years to come. But without a doubt, the Rookie of the Year Award is Clark’s to lose.
Caitlin Clark & Fever Have A Playoff Spot In Their Grasp
Barring an awful collapse of historic proportions, the Fever (17-16) will end their eight-year playoff drought this year. They have been on fire coming out of the Olympic break and sit 5.5 games clear of the ninth-seeded Atlanta Dream, who are on the outside looking in.
A playoff spot is essentially locked up. All the Fever have to do now is try and secure home advantage for the opening round.
The former United star is heading to Al Fayha.
A former Manchester United player is on the verge of completing a shock move to Saudi Arabia despite the transfer window closing.
The transfer window closed on Friday, August 30, but today the news broke that AS Roma defender Chris Smalling is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al Fayha.
Saudi Pro League clubs can sign players from abroad until 10pm BST on Monday.
According to reports, former Man United defender Smalling – who has entered the final year of his Roma contract – will sign a contract with Al Fayha valid until 2026.
Smalling will reportedly been named as a substitute for Roma’s clash with Juventus on Sunday, before he undergoes his Al Fayha medical in Rome on Monday.
Roma have been linked with World Cup-winning German centre-back Mats Hummels, but according to Fabrizio Romano, they will replace Smalling with free agent Mario Hermoso.
Smalling joined Roma in 2019 after nine years at Manchester United, where he made 323 appearances and won two Premier League titles.
In Italy the centre-back helped Roma win the inaugural UEFA Conference League in 2021-22 and reach the Europa League final the following year.
