Message from Myles Garrett on the race Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese ROY

This offseason, Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett is focusing on the WNBA. While attending the 2024 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, Garrett spoke to Heavy Sports about the league’s most controversial topic: Who should win Rookie of the Year?

Garrett, the AP Defensive Player of the Year, paused for a long moment before giving his answer. “Can we have a tie? It’s been done before.” The 28-year-old All-Pro thinks Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward should split the award.

“I mean, Reese played well with her double-double streak. But Caitlin also put up great numbers as a rookie. Honestly, good numbers for… in general.”

While the NBA has named two Rookie of the Year multiple times, the WNBA has not. If the league were to name two Rookie of the Year awards, it would be an unprecedented move. However, both Reese and Clark have unprecedented numbers.

Reese had 15 consecutive double-doubles, the longest streak in WNBA history. Her streak ended in the Sky’s 81-67 loss to the New York Liberty on July 14. She was just two points shy of recording her 16th double-double.

Clark, the first rookie to record a triple-double, is on pace to become the most decorated rookie in WNBA history. Clark has already passed Sue Bird for second-most assists (194) and needs 31 more to tie Ticha Penicheiro’s record (225).

As for non-rookie stats, she’s second in the league in assists per game behind Connecticut Sun star Alyssa Thomas. The first overall pick is currently two three-pointers away from tying Dallas Wings All-Star Arike Ogunbowale as the league leader from beyond the arc.

So far this season, Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Reese is averaging 13.5 points, 1.8 assists, 12.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Both rookies were selected as All-Stars and will face off against the U.S. teams on July 20.

Dawn Staley Gives a Temporary Answer on Choosing Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark for Rookie of the Year

Much like Garrett, WNBA legend and South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley knew that answering the ROY question was tricky territory. “You’re going to try to get me into a controversy,” Staley told TMZ on July 13, before giving a tentative answer.

“If I had to choose at that time, today, it would be Angel, without a doubt – what she was able to do with the double-doubles.” However, Staley, who received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPYs, also said her answer could change.

“Listen, the season is halfway over and Caitlin is coming,” Staley added with a laugh. “I’ll say this: Whichever team makes the playoffs, she’s going to be our rookie of the year.”

After beating the Minnesota Lynx 81-71 on July 14, the Fever sit in seventh place with an 11-14 record. The Sky are one spot behind at 9-14. Each team has one more game before the Olympic break.

Rachel Nichols gave her vote to Caitlin Clark “right now”

Cooper Flagg, who is projected to be the NBA’s No. 1 overall pick in 2025, told Heavy Sports his pick for Rookie of the Year is Clark, and analyst Rachel Nichols feels the same way.

During his appearance on “Undisputed” on July 8, Nichols said, “To me, Caitlin Clark is the rookie of the year right now. She’s had a bigger impact on winning than anyone else in the rookie category. She leads all rookies in four or five statistical categories, and her team is on pace to finish much better this year than they did last year, which means she’s had an impact on the overall health of the team.”

“Whereas right now, Angel Reese’s Sky is not in a position to improve.” However, Nichols was incredibly impressed by Reese’s back-to-back double-doubles. “We can’t rest on our laurels about the record she just set – any time you surpass Candace Parker in anything, that’s an accomplishment.”