South Carolina Women's Basketball Champions Coach Picks Angel Reese Over Caitlin Clark For WNBA Rookie Honors

[RandySF]

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley‘s voice carries great weight, having just led the Gamecocks to an undefeated 2024 NCAA season.

On Saturday morning, Staley gave her opinion on a hot-button of the moment: the race for WNBA Rookie of the Year between Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and the equally impressive Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.

Staley was asked about the ongoing race by TMZ. Her verdict: Right now, it’s Reese.

“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. What she’s been able to do with the double-doubles.


https://deadline.com/2024/07/south-carolina-coach-angel-reese-caitlin-clark-wnba-rookie-honors-1236009408/

[tulipsandroses]

1. Can't deny that, with the way she has been on fire

I hope she will be financially rewarded. She deserves it.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. I'll Deny It

I think impact on team success should be a major criterion for winning ROY.
This year, the Fever has a winning percentage of .440. The Sky are under .400.
But, last year The Sky finished the season at .450.
By contrast, the Fever had a winning % of .325 last year.
One player has participated in 33% greater team success. The other player's team regressed. Winning games is what the game us about.
Also, I'll admit the "double double" stat leaves me cold. I think it's a grossly overrated stat. So, that "record" doesn't sway me.

[tulipsandroses]

4. I imagine criteria for Rookie of the year is on par with the men

To my knowledge, individual stats are weighed heavily when it comes to Rookie of the Year.

For comparison:
This year's NBA rookie of the year is Victor Wembanyama - The Spurs won 22 games and lost 60 games this year. Same as they did last year.

San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama is the recipient of the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2023-24 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
Wembanyama received all 99 first-place votes from a media panel, making him the first unanimous Kia NBA Rookie of the Year since Karl-Anthony Towns in the 2015-16 season.

Wembanyama is the first player from France to win the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award, which has been presented annually since the 1952-53 season. He is also the third player to earn the honor with the Spurs, joining David Robinson (1989-90) and Tim Duncan (1997-98).
In the 2023-24 regular season, Wembanyama led all rookies in points (21.4), rebounds (10.6) and blocks (3.6) per game, in addition to ranking fourth in assists (3.9) and second in steals (1.2) per game. He is the second rookie to lead all NBA players in blocks per game in a season, joining Manute Bol (1985-86).

Wembanyama and Bol are also the only two rookies to lead the NBA in total blocks in a season since blocks were first recorded in the 1973-74 season.

Wembanyama became the first player to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in fewer than 30 minutes per game in a season. He is also the first player to have at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers made in a season.
https://www.nba.com/news/victor-wembanyama-named-2023-24-kia-nba-rookie-of-the-year#

Never heard anyone say that double double stats are over rated about male players. Webanyama lead rookies in points and blocks.
Typically shows a versatile player and not someone that is one dimensional. You want players that can play both ends of the court and have high basketball IQ - which leads to other stats other than just shooting. You can't consistently win by just scoring without strong defense.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Then, Ill Say It

The double-double is overrated in BASKETBALL!
And, the double-double doesn't show what you claim in large measure. That's what the triple-double shows, in theory.
Besides, there are very few one dimensional players at that level, aside from some 3 point & defensive specialists off the bench.
Are you suggesting the Steph Curry isn't versatile because he doesn't average a double double? Neither did LeBron James.
You have quite the nerve attributing sexism to my comments when I specifically said the STAT is overrated.
When you have no real argument, it's attack the messenger, I guess.

[tulipsandroses]

6. I don't do online arguing. You were not attacked.

Neither did I attribute sexism to your comments. You are reading into it what you want.

[questionseverything]

2. Cc just did the first triple double by a rookie in wnba

She and reese are different positions, will be fun to watch them play together against the olympic team