Since being taken No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, it has been presumed Caitlin Clark will be the Rookie of the Year.

Early on, nothing Clark has done in her first season in the league has dispelled the notion that she is deserving. However, when South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley was asked who she believed was the Rookie of the Year to date, she picked another player (and a former rival to boot): Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.

“They both are having great years – don’t get me wrong,” Staley told TMZ Sports. “If I had to pick a Rookie of the Year at this time… today, it’s Angel. Not a doubt. What she’s been able to do with the double-doubles.”

Of course, Staley has played both Clark and Reese. The Gamecocks defeated Clark and lowa in the national championship game to complete a perfect season. USC also beat LSU twice last season, including in the SEC Tournament Championship game

“They [are] both having great years. But if I had to pick a Rookie of the Year… Today it’s Angel [Reese]. Not a doubt.”

Do you agree with Dawn Staley? 🤔

(via @TMZ_Sports)pic.twitter.com/arSE87F7Xn

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 13, 2024

Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark stats in the WNBA

Clark and the Fever have already faced off against Reese and the Sky three times this season, with Indiana winning the first two head-to-head matchups. The two teams are scheduled to play again on Aug. 30 in Chicago for the season’s final matchup.

Reese has been dominant after falling to No. 7 overall. She currently has a WNBA-record streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles for the Chicago Sky, who sit at 9-13. Reese is averaging 13.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. She leads the WNBA in rebounds per game with the latter mark.

Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Indiana Fever, who sit at 10-14. Clark leads the WNBA in scoring and is the first rookie to eclipse 400 points, 150 assists and 100 rebounds.