Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Set WNBA Records as Fever Beat Sky, Fans Name ROY Winner

Andrew PetersAugust 31, 2024

Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The two frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year award battled it out on Friday as Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever beat Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky 100-81.

Clark outplayed Reese in the win, picking up 31 points, 12 assists and four rebounds while hitting five threes on the night.

Clark set a pair of records in the win, passing Ticha Penicheiro for the most games with 10 or more assists by a rookie in WNBA history with nine and becoming the first player in WNBA history with 23-plus points and 12-plus assists.

WNBA @WNBANew day, new record 🔥

With her 10th assist of the night, Caitlin Clark passes Ticha Penicheiro for the most 10+ AST games by a rookie in WNBA history with 9!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/ETb6gYXAqT

WNBA @WNBAWhy not add one more record to a career-high 🪄

Caitlin Clark has passed Courtney Vandersloot for the most 20+ PTS, 10+ AST games in a single season in WNBA history with 5!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/6XByyame1S

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynoldsCaitlin Clark: the first 31-point, 12-assist game in WNBA history tonight.

Indiana Fever @IndianaFeverroll the tape 🎞 pic.twitter.com/HcOBCetX3X

Reese finished with 10 points and 11 boards, also setting two records for the most double-doubles by a rookie with 23 and the most rebounds by a rookie with 399.

WNBA @WNBAONE OF ONE.

With her 23rd double-double of the season, Angel Reese passes Tina Charles for the most by a rookie in WNBA history 🔥#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/lGRh1irCaA

WNBA @WNBAA rebounding machine 💪

With her 11th rebound of the night, Angel Reese passes Tina Charles for the most rebounds by a rookie in WNBA history!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/QY8PAm4SiJ

Clark likely had the edge over Reese coming into the matchup, but after she outperformed Reese in the win fans officially declared that the Rookie of the Year race is over. Even Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James chimed in on Clark’s performance.

LeBron James @KingJamesCAITLIN CLARK!!!!! HI HATERS

‘World’s Fastest Man’ @kelan_phillipsAt first it was a competition for sure and Angel Reese is having a very good year, historic even in some regards based on the records she’s breaking

But the ROY is Caitlin Clark….

Enoch Kwaw-Nimeson, PhD @NimzanityHow could anyone watch Caitlin Clark and still say Angel Reese deserves ROY over her? It’s not even close. Ever!

elaqvino🍌 @elaqvinoCaitlin Clark is without a doubt WNBA’s ROY.

King Teezy @Chef_TeezyCaitlin Clark Is “ROY” After This Game

Oatmeal FC @OatmealFCPeople watching this game don’t actually think Angel Reese deserves ROY over Caitlin Clark right??

Salley Mitchell @SalleyBMitchellCaitlin Clark proved why she is the rookie of the year tonight against Angel Reese

CryptoGeek🚀🚀IYKYK @XRPCRYPTOGEEKI’ve seen enough… Just give @CaitlinClark22 the rookie of the year right now… #WNBA #rookieoftheyear #roty #caitlinclark

Lebron Firmino 🇰🇲 🇵🇸🇨🇩 @269RayCAITLIN CLARK. ROY.

Dennis @deemoneylaCaitlin Clark cementing her ROY campaign. There is no argument after today

Kimi Raikkonen @QuintonJamal11Go ahead and give Caitlin Clark that ROY it isn’t even close.

Xavier Boyd @xvr11xCaitlin Clark is unapologetically the rookie of the year

E @itstoo_realCaitlin Clark is the rookie of the year for sure

BasketballGod @Thirst22Not only is Caitlin Clark the ROY. She might be a top 5 player in the wnba already.

This season, Clark is averaging 18 points, 8.1 assists and 5.7 rebounds, and her game has been even better since returning from the Olympic break. While Clark has been better this year, Reese is also having a strong year, putting up 13.3 points and 12.9 boards per game.

While the social media world is bound to chime in on the Rookie of the Year debate, Clark clarified before the game that both her and Reese’s focuses are on winning games.

“I think me and Angel would both give you the same answer,” Clark said when asked about the topic on Friday, per the Indianapolis Star’s Evan Frank. “We don’t wake up and think about individual awards. I know that’s what all of you think we do. I know we don’t. That’s what everybody wants to make this about. Both of our teams are competing for playoff spots. That is our main focus.”

With the win, Indiana improved to 16-16 on the year and is now tied with the Phoenix Mercury, who are in sixth place in the WNBA standings. The Sky dropped to 11-20 but are still in playoff position in eighth place.