Shaq Picks Angel Reese Over Caitlin Clark for Current WNBA Rookie of the Year
Mar 3, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese takes a photo for senior night with former LSU player and NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, LSU Lady Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey, and Reese’s mother Angel Webb against the Kentucky Wildcats at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. / Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
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Chicago Sky
Indiana Fever
One of the most talked about WNBA storylines this season revolves around the battle for 2024 Rookie of the Year—Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark or Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese?
The race is extremely close heading into the All-Star break, but NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has an easy answer for who he thinks deserves the award: Reese.
O’Neal and Reese have been friends since she became a superstar at LSU, O’Neal’s alma mater. But, he is also just very impressed with her WNBA rookie season so far.
“I’m not just saying this because she went to LSU, I think she’s definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race,” O’Neal said. “I give the vote to Angel.”
“[Angel Reese is] definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race.”
Shaq says that Caitlin Clark is a "fabulous player" but his vote for ROTY is for Angel Reese right now 👀 pic.twitter.com/bGmSgTeXSn
— espnW (@espnW) July 17, 2024
O’Neal is still impressed by Clark, though, and he applauded both of the WNBA rookies for their influence on the league and game as a whole.
“Caitlin is a fabulous player, the female Steph Curry,” O’Neal continued. “They have done a lot for the game. … Caitlin and Angel, because of social media and all the media outlets, they really brought the game where it should’ve been 10 years ago.”
Through 23 games played, Reese has averaged 13.5 points and 12 rebounds per game. He name was tossed in the same sentence as O’Neal recently when she clocked her 16th double-double in her first 22 starts, which trailed only O’Neal’s 19 double-doubles in the same amount of starts in his rookie season.
Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.
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Here’s What Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Are Doing During WNBA Olympics Break
WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have reached the level of fame where their whereabouts become the subject of conversation. The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky stars currently have some time off as the league is in its Olympics break and thanks to social media fans can see what they’ve been up to.
Angel Reese courtside with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry at the Women’s USA vs Germany game today 🖤👑 pic.twitter.com/fA92Ri2Fpb
— LANI ❦ (@___lovelani) July 23, 2024
Clark is taking her vow to not touch a basketball for a bit seriously as photos were shared of her in Mexico, along with Fever teammate Lexie Hull. One would have to assume another team member, Katie Lou Samuelson, is also there since she shared the pics on her Instagram story. Judging by the caption they have dubbed themselves mermaids while out on the water. The squad doesn’t have another game until August 16th so they’ve got a little time to get their Ariel on.
the mexico update we’ve been waiting for!!! courtesy of mama Lou 😍 #FeverRising #caitlinclark #lexiehull #katielou pic.twitter.com/yJapVLWm8Z
— abc² (@says0o) July 24, 2024
Meanwhile, Reese has been more basketball adjacent. Angel was spotted alongside Kevin Durant and Steph Curry watching the USA Women’s Basketball team take on Germany in London. She has since found her way to Paris, site of the Olympics. Reese posted plenty of shots from Disneyland in France, while also hitting the city for some shopping. Barbie appears to be in her bag, after having some issues with her bags following her flight overseas.
Angel Reese at Disneyland Paris 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/IJBlei9hFy
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) July 24, 2024
It will be a little while before we see the two merchandise movers back in uniform. But the rooks have earned a much needed break, fresh off an All-Star Game that set WNBA viewership records, which has become the norm for this season.
