Angel Reese’s stunning fan gift could be her secret weapon in Rookie of the Year race against Caitlin Clark

Since the arrival of rookiesAngel Reese with the Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark with the Indiana Fever, the WNBA has experienced some of its best months ever in terms of ratings, arena attendance, jersey sales, and social media engagement. While the league already boasted exceptional players like Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, and Brittney Griner, the addition of these two rookies, especially Clark, has sparked a significant positive impact.

Although Caitlin Clark might be the more popular of the two, Angel Reese has made a strong case for the Rookie of the Year award. Her most notable achievement is setting a league record of 15 consecutive games with a double-double, which ended yesterday against the New York Liberty (20-4). In that same game, a Chicago Sky fan (9-14) brought a Reese-inspired Barbie doll, complete with her jersey number (5), highlighting her growing influence.

Formerly known as “Chi-town Barbie” and “Bayou Barbie” during her college years, nicknames that reflected her on-court talent and vibrant personality, Reese’s new nickname in the league has become “League Barbie.” While this moniker may not strike fear into opponents, as long as Reese continues to deliver impressive performances and lead her team to victories, it will solidify her presence in the league, as evidenced by the fan’s tribute.

Apparently a season ticket holder made this Angel Reese Barbie.

Wondering if Mattel is cooking something up 👀 pic.twitter.com/fLP4xOss7g

— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) July 13, 2024

The Race for Rookie of the Year

The WNBA’s future looks bright with these two outstanding rookies, and fans are eager to see how they will continue to shape the league.

In a tight battle for the Rookie of the Year award between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, both players have shown the mentality of seasoned veterans despite only being in the league for two months. Reese, in 23 games, averages 13.5 points per game (PPG) and leads the league with 12 rebounds per game (RPG) in just over 31 minutes of play. On the other hand, Clark, in 24 games, averages 16.8 PPG, leads the league with 7.8 assists per game (APG), and contributes 5.9 RPG.

Caitlin Clark is the first @WNBA player ever to have 25+ points, 10+ assists, 5+ rebounds, 5+ steals, and 5+ three-pointers in a game 👀 pic.twitter.com/8S5DwBZ4al

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 10, 2024

Clark seems to have a stronger chance of winning the award due to her significant impact on her team’s performance, as she completely commands the team’s offense. With a month-long break starting this Wednesday for the All-Star game and the Olympics, the second half of the season promises to be highly competitive. The names of Clark and Reese will undoubtedly be frequently mentioned as the race heats up.

For the first time since 2008, two WNBA rookies are currently leading in one of the five major statistical categories among all WNBA players:

Angel Reese — 1st in Rebounds
Caitlin Clark — 1st in Assists

🪄 pic.twitter.com/TNVP11Tg0I

— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) July 14, 2024