WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds: Can Rising Reese Close In on Clark?
With a few weeks remaining until the league stops briefly for the Olympic break, it needs to come as not a surprise that the WNBA Rookie of the Year race is currently down to simply 2 prospects, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
Clark and Reese may not have actually been drafted initially and second general in this year's WNBA Draft, but they are the headliners of the class in regards to pre-existing notoriety. In addition to all that both players achieved on the collegiate level, a rivalry between the two has actually been manufactured. That rivalry, for much better or worse, transcends what either player does on the basketball court or the reality that they play totally different positions on stated court.
While Clark came up short in two to win a championship game, she led Iowa to extraordinary success, broke a bevy of program, conference, and nationwide records, and made a mass of memorable shots from all over the court.
Reese, who had 80 double-doubles in 116 video games over her four seasons with Maryland and LSU, led the Tigers to a nationwide title over Clark's Hawkeyes in 2023. She couldn't duplicate that exact same success in her final college season, as Iowa ended the Tigers' repeat hopes in the Elite 8.
2024 WNBA Draft First Round Picks
Bolded and italicized gamers are not playing in the WNBA this season.
1. Indiana Fever - Caitlin Clark, Iowa
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Cameron Brink, Stanford
3. Chicago Sky - Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
4. Los Angeles Sparks - Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
5. Dallas Wings - Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
6. Washington Mystics - Aaliyah Edwards, UConn
7. Chicago Sky - Angel Reese, Chicago Sky
8. Minnesota Lynx - Alissa Pili, Utah
Dallas Wings - Carla Leite, France
Connecticut Sun - Leila Lacan, France
9. New York City Liberty - Marquesha Davis, Ole Miss
. Atlanta Dream - Nyadiew Puoch, Australia
While they were accustomed to success in college, the shift to the WNBA has not been a smooth one on both specific and group levels. That ought to be anticipated, offered the circumstances they entered and the natural transition that happens when moving from college to the expert ranks.
But as the season has progressed, both Clark and Reese have actually gotten a growing number of comfortable. And at the same time, some team success is starting to occur.
Chicago's 88-87 win over Indiana on Sunday was their 2nd straight win and took them to 6-9 on the season. And while the Fever were not able to liquidate the Sky at Wintrust Arena, they have actually won five of their last seven games and are now 7-11 for the season.
There's a great deal of basketball left this season, but both groups are directly in the playoff image at present. And with Cameron Brink out for the season after suffering a torn ACL last week and no other rookies even on the periphery of the conversation, the WNBA Rookie of the Year race is squarely focused on Clark and Reese.
Odds to Win 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year
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- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever -850.
- Angel Reese, Chicago Sky +500
Clark vs Reese in Two-Horse WNBA Rookie of the Year Race
Clark entered the season as a heavy favorite to win WNBA Rookie of the Year, which benefit has only increased, even with some shooting and turnover has a hard time early on.
Many might have been anticipating Clark to illuminate the scoreboard in Indianapolis like she carried out in Iowa City, particularly after she scored 20 points in her routine season debut against the Connecticut Sun, one of the very best groups in the WNBA.
But in the 17 video games given that, she has hit the 20-point mark only four times. However, her shooting is enhancing, and she is in the middle of a solid all-around stretch.
Caitlin Clark Game Log and Season Statistics
Last Five Games for Caitlin Clark
- Chicago Sky (roadway - June 23): 17 points (5 of 11 FG, 5 of 9 3PT, 2 of 3 FT), 13 helps, 6 rebounds, four steals.
- Atlanta Dream (roadway - June 21): 16 points (6 of 12 FG, 4 of 8 3PT, 0 of 1 FT), seven assists, 4 rebounds.
- Washington Mystics (home - June 19): 18 points (6 of 12 FG, 2 of 6 3PT, 4 of 4 FT), 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 takes.
- Chicago Sky (home - June 16): 23 points (7 of 11 FG, 3 of 7 3PT, 6 of 6 FT), nine helps, eight rebounds, two blocks.
- Atlanta Dream (home - June 13): 7 points (3 of 11 FG, 1 of 6 3PT), six assists, four rebounds, two blocks
2024 Season Statistics for Caitlin Clark
- Season (18 video games): 16.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 39.9% FG, 35.2% 3PT, 88.9% FT.
- May (9 games): 17.6 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.1 RPG, 37.7% FG, 32% 3PT, 89.4% FT.
- June (9 games): 15.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 5.8 RPG, 42.6% FG, 35.7% 3PT, 88% FT
While the exact same expectations weren't loaded upon Reese that were upon Clark, it took a while for the double-double maker to settle into doing what she does finest.
In her very first 7 WNBA video games, Reese recorded simply one double-double. That can be found in her 5th game, an 11-point, 12-rebound performance versus the Seattle Storm. And in her first 7 games, she balanced 10.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG, numbers that are more than decent however nothing in comparison to what she was doing just several weeks prior for LSU.
But after setting up 25 points and 16 rebounds against the Fever on Sunday, she now has 8 consecutive double-doubles. Because stretch, she is balancing 15.5 PPG and 13.1 RPG. As an outcome, her WNBA Rookie of the Year hopes have actually enhanced.
Angel Reese Game Log and Season Statistics
Last Five Games for Angel Reese
- Indiana Fever (home - June 23): 25 points (8 of 12 FG, 9 of 11 FT), 16 rebounds.
- Dallas Wings (home - June 20): 16 points (7 of 13 FG, 2 of 3 FT), 18 rebounds, three helps, two steals.
- Indiana Fever (roadway - June 16): 11 points (4 of 13 FG, 3 of 3 FT), 13 rebounds, 5 helps, two steals.
- Washington Mystics (road - June 14): 10 points (3 of 10 FG, 4 of 4 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists.
- Connecticut Sun (home - June 12): 20 points (8 of 10 FG, 4 of 4 FT), 10 rebounds, 2 steals
2024 Season Statistics for Angel Reese
- Season (15 games): 13.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 40.6% FG, 76.2% FT.
- May (6 video games): 11.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 37.3% FG, 66.7% FT.
- June (9 games): 14.6 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.0 SPG, 42.5% FG, 82.4% FT
There is a lot to be stated for the attention on these two novices, their "competition," and more particularly on Clark, whose recent "snub" from the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team made a wealth of unnecessary headings. After all, there are a lots groups in the WNBA, a great deal of gifted players, and various engaging stories to look for over the remainder of the season.
But the three matchups between Clark and Reese have actually brought a great deal of eyeballs personally, on TV, and online.
Their face-off in Indianapolis on June 16, which was telecasted by CBS, was one of the most viewed WNBA game considering that 2001. That mark didn't last very long, as last Sunday's clash in Chicago, which was telecasted by ESPN, eclipsed it.
So, if we can get a close WNBA Rookie of the Year race between 2 gamers who could also be secured a tight battle for a playoff spot, it can just be a great thing.
Will we get that? Reese has a great deal of catching up to do still, based upon the odds. But her current play has given her a chance to a minimum of close the gap in the coming weeks before the Olympic break and then after the season resumes in mid-August.
Whatever takes place, there's a lot to anticipate, even for neutrals, as these 2 intense stars continue to find their groove on the professional phase.
Where to Bank On WNBA Rookie of the Year Odds and More
In addition to providing chances on each game on the schedule, lots of sportsbooks also provide a range of WNBA futures odds, such as these Rookie of the Year odds, champion winner odds, WNBA MVP chances, win overall odds, and more.
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