Dawn Staley tabs Angel Reese as Rookie of the Year over Caitlin Clark at this point

The WNBA Rookie of the Year race is a hot topic at the moment as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have both had excellent debut seasons. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley recently made her pick for the Rookie of the Year to this point when speaking with TMZ.

Staley acknowledged that it is a tough call, but as things stand, she has Angel Reese as the winner.

“They both are having great years. Don’t get me wrong,” Dawn Staley said. “If I had to pick a Rookie of the Year at this time, today, it’s Angel. Not a doubt.”

Reese gets the nod in Staley’s mind thanks to her consistent scoring and rebounding. Entering Saturday’s game against the New York Liberty, Reese had recorded a double-double in 15 straight games, which is a WNBA record.

The Chicago Sky star entered Saturday’s game averaging 13.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

Caitlin Clark has had an excellent year, too. And while she isn’t rebounding at the same level as Reese, she is setting up her teammates for success, in addition to scoring on her own.

Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, and Dawn Staley wouldn’t be surprised at all if she ends up as the Rookie of the Year at season’s end. However, right now she says Reese has a slight edge.

“I mean, what she’s been able to do with the double-doubles,” Dawn Staley said of Angel Reese. “But listen, the season is halfway through. And Caitlin is coming. Oh, oh, Caitlin is coming. If I had to pick today it’s Angel. … I’ll say this, whatever team makes the playoffs, that’s our Rookie of the Year.”

ESPN’s Andraya Carter breaks down what has led to Angel Reese’s WNBA success

Angel Reese is off to a record-breaking start in her WNBA career. The former LSU star enters Saturday’s game against the New York Liberty with 15 straight double-doubles.

Reese is averaging 13.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for the Chicago Sky, and her 15 straight double-doubles are a WNBA record.

ESPN’s Andraya Carter spoke on SportsCenter Saturday morning about the incredible run by Angel Reese to start her WNBA career and what has led to her success.

“Well, first of all, just the fact that Angel Reese has brought this same energy and consistency and relentlessness when it comes to rebounding,” Carter said. “We saw it throughout her college career. The fact that she brings that and she hangs her hat on that.

“To have success in the WNBA is remarkable. But what really stands out to me is when you look at her rebounds, she is getting just under 5 offensive rebounds a game,” Carter said. “I was looking at some WNBA stats, the last time anyone averaged 4 offensive rebounds per game was in 2014… 10 years ago. Her offensive rebounding, her energy on that side. It’s a skill. It’s timing. It’s angles. And she’s been able to do that as a rookie in the WNBA. It’s remarkable.”