Caitlin Clark Leads Angel Reese in Rookie of the Year Race in AP

At the season’s midpoint Caitlin Clark is ahead of Angel Reese in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race according to a national panel of voters who also rank the weekly AP Power Poll.

Clark and Reese have gained national attention with their record breaking rookie seasons. They are the first rookie duo to make an All Star team since 2014 so it’s no surprise they are the top candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.

The pair have boosted league ratings attendance and merchandise sales. With plenty of basketball left to play either one could win the Rookie of the Year award.

At the halfway point the 15 member panel gives the edge to Clark with a 9, 5 vote. One person didn’t vote.

Today I would choose Clark because her team has one more win overall and leads 2-1 head to head said voter Christy Winters Scott a basketball analyst for the Mystics. But this could change as the WNBA season goes on. It’s been a joy for me to see how both players have grown as professionals in such a short time.

According to Sports Groovy Clark leads the WNBA in points contributed points plus points from assists with 713. She also became the first rookie for the Indiana Fever to achieve a triple double in a game doing so in a win against New York.

Reese broke the WNBA record with 13 consecutive double doubles surpassing Candace Parker’s mark of 12 set between 2009 and 2010. She leads the league in rebounding with an average of 11.9 per game.

The panel unanimously chose Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson as the Player of the Year at this point in the season. Wilson believed she should have won the award last year and has been even more dominant this year. She is averaging 27.0 points 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

The Aces’ star forward is on track to break the record for the highest average points scored in a season. She became the all time leading scorer for the Aces last Sunday.

Cheryl Reeve is chosen as the mid season Coach of the Year. She led the Minnesota Lynx to win the Commissioner’s Cup and has the team currently in third place in the standings. Reeve was almost unanimously chosen with Stephanie White of Connecticut receiving the only other vote.

AP WNBA Poll

New York stays at the top of this week’s AP WNBA power rankings with Connecticut moving back into second place. Following them are Las Vegas Minnesota and Seattle. Indiana and Phoenix are tied for sixth with Chicago and Atlanta behind them. Washington Los Angeles and Dallas complete the rankings.

Caitlin’s corner

Clark has recorded double digit assists in her last three games highlighted by a 19 point 12 rebound and 13 assist performance against New York last Saturday. The Fever have won six out of their last nine games. Indiana has a busy week ahead hosting Washington and Phoenix before traveling to Minnesota on Sunday.

Rookie update

Rickea Jackson has been showing her potential recently. The fourth overall pick for the Los Angeles Sparks averaged 16 points 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists last week. She scored a season high 22 points in a game against Phoenix despite the team’s loss.

Game Highlight

New York will face Connecticut on Wednesday in a midday camp day game. These top teams in the WNBA will meet again in New York next Tuesday before a break for the Olympics.

Player of the Week

Wilson was named AP Player of the Week. The Aces forward averaged 27.3 points 10 rebounds and 4 blocks helping Las Vegas to a 3 ,1 record. Other players receiving votes included Reese and Clark.