Angel Reese is WNBA Rookie of the Year right now with Caitlin Clark ‘coming’: Dawn Staley

Caitlin Clark may have ended Angel Reese’s college career, but Reese is arguably off to a better start in the WNBA.

At least that’s how legendary South Carolina coach Dawn Staley sees the race for WNBA Rookie of the Year with about two months remaining in the regular season.

Angel Reese
Angel ReeseKamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
“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.”

Reese has a current WNBA-record streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles for the Chicago Sky (9-13). She is averaging 13.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Indiana Fever (10-14). The Fever have two wins in three meetings against the Sky and three straight overall.

“Listen, the season is halfway through and Caitlin is coming,” Staley said. “I’ll say this, ‘Whatever team makes the playoffs, that’s our Rookie of the Year.”

Earlier this year, Clark-led Iowa beat Reese-led LSU in the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Caitlin Clark
Caitlin ClarkGrace Hollars / USA TODAY NETWORK
After ousting UConn in the Final Four, Iowa lost to Staley-coached South Carolina in the national championship game.

It was the second straight year Iowa lost in the final game, after falling to Reese and LSU in 2023. It was Staley’s third national title won at South Carolina.

Staley isn’t worried that the outflow of star power – including the arena-filling Clark – to the WNBA will cause interest in women’s college basketball to decline to past levels.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley
South Carolina coach Dawn StaleyAP
“The game isn’t going anywhere,” she said. “The game has been great for a very long time. I think the decision-makers and the people who pour the resources into our game decided to do that with a person like Caitlin Clark, who deserved it.

“Now, there are some stars and I coach one, MiLaysia Fulwiley. JuJu [Watkins of USC] is balling. Hannah Hidalgo at Notre Dame. You have a lot of household names – young names – that our game can sustain itself if you pour in the type of resources that you poured in over the last two years.”