Where the Kaitlynn Clark-Angel Reese Rookie of the Year battle stands

The Kaitlyn Clark-Angel Reese rivalry is dominating the WNBA Rookie of the Year battle.

According to the Associated Press, Clark, the No. 1 overall pick by the Fever in this year’s draft, is ahead of Reese, the No. 7 pick by the Sky, for ROTY honors midway through the season.

The AP surveyed a 15-member panel consisting of voters – who also rank the AP Power Poll each week – and Clark received nine votes compared to Reese’s five, with one absentee.

A solid case can be made for both rookie sensations whose college rivalry moved up to the WNBA, as the league has seen major increases in viewership and revenue.

Reese led the LSU Tigers to their first championship in program history with wins over Clark and Iowa in 2023 – when the former LSU forward famously waved his hand in front of Clark’s face and made the “you can’t see me” gesture. Did. The end of the game, which helped fuel the rivalry.

Iowa defeated LSU in the Elite Eight of this year’s women’s NCAA tournament.

Both Clark and Reese have etched their names in the WNBA record books playing starting roles for their respective teams.

The 22-year-old Reese set a new WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles with 13 in Chicago’s 84-71 loss to the Storm on Sunday – surpassing Candace Parker’s previous record of 12, set in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Was.

The LSU product, who also leads the league in rebounding with 11.9 per game, finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

Meanwhile, Clark is reviving the Fever in her first WNBA season.

Clark’s scoring ability carried over from college, during which the former Iowa point guard became the NCAA’s all-time Division I scoring leader in his senior year, and he led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back appearances in the national championship game.

On Sunday, she secured her name in the WNBA record book, becoming the first rookie in league history to record a triple-double in an 83-78 Fever win over the Liberty.

Clark finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in the Fever’s impressive 17–4 win over the Liberty, tied with the Suns for the WNBA’s best record.

Both Clark and Reese were the only rookies named to the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, which begins on July 20 in Phoenix.

Clark said of his and Reese’s All-Star nod, “I know people will be really excited about it, but I hope it doesn’t take away from everyone else.” “This is a great accomplishment for Team USA and everyone at Team WNBA. They all deserve equal praise. I don’t want it to take anything away from them and just become the focal point of All-Star weekend because that’s not fair to them.

“Just obviously going to soak in the experience because you never know if you’ll ever get back there.”

Clark has not yet revealed whether she will participate in the 3-point contest, saying last Friday, “It remains to be seen.”

“We’ll see. I don’t know, I haven’t decided, I don’t know. I can’t give you guys every answer today.”

Clark and Reese have also continued to dominate the NIL field.

The Fever Guard’s first Wilson Signature basketball became available on Tuesday.

Reese confirmed in May that he was getting his signature Reebok sneaker line.

According to the AP, the national panel of voters also chose Las Vegas forward A’ja Wilson as the unanimous choice for Player of the Year at this point in the season.

Wilson – a two-time WNBA champion, two-time league MVP and two-time Defensive Play of the Year – is averaging 27.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks this season, which is already better than she will be in 2023, when she Was in third place. MVP voting.

The Nike athlete — whose signature shoe, the “A’One” will arrive in 2025 — became the Aces’ all-time scoring leader in a 104-85 win against the Wings on Sunday.

Wilson will face Clark and Reese in the WNBA All-Star Game.

Wilson will represent Team USA, which is comprised of WNBA stars competing in the Paris Olympics, and Clark and Reese will be teammates for the first time in the WNBA.

The WNBA All-Star Game will air on ABC and ESPN will air a skills challenge and 3-point contest on July 19 at 6 p.m.