ESPN star’s Angel Reese Rookie of the Year pick explanation draws backlash: ‘Awful take’

ESPN pundit Monica McNutt drew some blowback for her explanation of why Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is her WNBA Rookie of the Year pick over Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.  McNutt on “Get Up” on Friday said she would choose Reese for the award because of where the Sky are in the WNBA standings.

“My rookie of the year is going to go based off the standings because I think that is how you have to measure impact,” McNutt said. “And the Sky right now are in the playoffs, so you have to give the nod, in my mind, to Angel Reese.”  McNutt also pointed to Reese’s double-double streak, which was at 11 as she was speaking on the ESPN show. She also pointed to the lack of All-Stars that were on the team when Reese was selected.

When it came to Indiana, McNutt said the Fever already have the building blocks. Aliyah Boston was the No. 1 pick last season and the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, and Kelsey Mitchell was already averaging nearly 20 points per game.  But fans who have tuned into the WNBA this season because of Clark and Reese took issue with McNutt’s reasoning and expressed as much on social media.

“My rookie of the year is going to go based on the standings. … And the Sky right now are in the playoffs. So, you’d have to give the nod in my mind to Angel Reese.”

—@McNuttMonica on the WNBA ROTY race between Reese and Caitlin Clark 👀 pic.twitter.com/65CnhbObrL

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 5, 2024

Caitlin Clark is leading all WNBA rookies in scoring, assists and field goals made but ok 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 #WNBA https://t.co/1yTzJ9HwrD

— Gabriel Morency (@sportsrage) July 5, 2024

Since McNutt’s remarks, Clark became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double while Reese extended her double-double streak to 12 games.  As of Sunday, both teams are in the top eight in the WNBA standings and would make the playoffs.