Dawn Staley names clear frontrunner in Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Rookie of the Year race: 'Not a doubt'

Angel Reese is retired successful beforehand successful nan title for WNBA Rookie of nan Year contempt Caitlin Clark's early occurrence pinch nan Indiana Fever.

That's nan verdict of South Carolina's March Madness-winning coach Dawn Staley, who has nary doubts that nan Chicago Sky guardant would person nan grant if it was decided now.

Reese and Clark are some enjoying sensational rookie seasons successful Chicago and Indiana respectively, pinch nan former's mean of 11.8 rebounds per crippled nan highest successful nan league.

Her arch-rival complete astatine nan Fever, meanwhile, leads nan rookies erstwhile it comes to points per crippled (16.8) and has group galore records already; specified arsenic becoming nan first rookie ever to grounds 400 points, 150 assists and 100 rebounds.

However, erstwhile quizzed connected who she would sanction Rookie of nan Year correct now, Staley named Reese arsenic a clear winner.

'They some are having awesome years, don’t get maine wrong,' nan 54-year-old told TMZ Sports.

'If I had to prime a Rookie of nan Year astatine this time, today... it’s Angel. Not a doubt. [Because of] what she’s been capable to do pinch nan double-doubles.'

Opinion is divided connected who is starring nan Rookie of nan Year title 2 months into nan regular season, pinch others adamant that Clark's beardown shape pinch nan Fever makes her nan favorite.

Conservative sports commentator Jason Whitlock feels nan erstwhile Iowa assemblage prima is astir apt to travel retired connected top, saying astir her precocious number of turnovers connected X: '[Michael] Jordan wasn't defended nan measurement Clark has been. Plus, she's a risk-taker/gambler because she's truthful overmuch much skilled than 97% of nan players.'

On Friday, Clark broke nan Fever's franchise grounds of astir assists successful a quarter (7) pinch 9 successful Indiana's 96-85 upset complete nan Phoenix Mercury. 

Meanwhile, according to a nationalist sheet of voters who rank The Associated Press' Power Poll each week, Clark leads Reese successful nan title for ROTY honors astatine nan midpoint of nan season. 

Clark and Reese person garnered nationalist attraction pinch record-setting rookie seasons - starring to them being nan first rookie duo to make an All-Star squad since 2014 - truthful it's nary astonishment that they're nan starring candidates for nan award.  

The brace person helped nan convention to immense increases successful ratings, attendance and merchandise income and pinch truthful overmuch hoops still to beryllium played an statement tin beryllium made for either to triumph nan award.