Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark duel for Rookie of the Year offers intriguing subplot for final Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever matchup

Since they joined the league in May, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have redefined expectations for the WNBA.

That much was easy to see with a single glance around Wintrust Arena in June when the rookies met in Chicago for the first time.

Sky ticket sales have more than doubled this year in reaction to the popularity of Reese and fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso. And Friday’s fourth and final matchup against Clark and the Indiana Fever is expected to draw another sellout crowd with the second-highest average ticket price of the season.

Reese and Clark have reiterated that their sole focus is on earning a playoff spot as the centerpieces for their rebuilding teams. But in the background, a different finish line also is fast approaching with three weeks left in the regular season: the final lap in the Rookie of the Year race.

When Cameron Brink went down with an injury in June, the field for the WNBA’s top-rookie award quickly narrowed to Clark and Reese. For most of this year, Clark has been the presumptive favorite.

As they prepare to face off one final time as rookies Friday, where do Reese and Clark stand?

The odd thing about debating Reese versus Clark is the fact they really aren’t playing against each other. Reese is a stretch forward, Clark a point guard. Besides a handful of switches and broken plays, they spend most of any given meeting in different orbits on the court. (Arguably the most interesting matchup is Aliyah Boston versus Cardoso.) Still, the concept of the rivalry has surrounded the two young stars.

Reese and Clark have been synonymous with record breaking in their rookie seasons.

Reese broke Candace Parker’s record for consecutive double-doubles (15) and became the first WNBA player to record at least 20 rebounds in consecutive games. The forward is on track to break Sylvia Fowles’ rebounding record set in 2018, trailing the mark of 404 by only 16 with 10 games left in the season.

Clark similarly has cemented her place in the league’s history book, becoming the first rookie to notch a triple-double and setting the single-season 3-point record. The guard leads the WNBA in assists with 252, breaking Ticha Penicheiro’s rookie record of 225.

Even as they set records, however, both players have a clear weakness that limits their dominance against a league packed with seasoned superstars.

Clark leads the WNBA in turnovers with 171 in 31 games, which broke the league record for most in a single season. And Reese is last in the WNBA in finishing efficiency under the rim, shooting less than 45% within five feet of the basket.

For Reese, the inability to finish is a more pervasive issue — and more limiting in her overall effectiveness for the Sky. While her rebounding has offered a crucial lift, the Sky still can’t effectively run their offense through Reese because of her inconsistent shooting in the post.

While Clark’s tendency to turn the ball over is a thorn in the Fever’s side, it’s also a byproduct of the overall creativity that has functionally transformed their offense for the better. Learning to thread the needle between boldness and recklessness is a key factor in Clark taking the next step in her career. But it doesn’t handicap the Fever in the same way as Reese’s inability to finish.

When all other statistics and factors in the debate are pushed aside, this is the heart of why Clark maintains an edge over Reese in the Rookie of the Year debate. Both have room to grow — but the offensive learning curve is far steeper for Reese.

Reese is averaging 13.3 points on 38.4% shooting, 12.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals for the Sky, who at 11-19 are clinging to the final playoff spot, one game ahead of the Atlanta Dream. Clark is averaging 18 points on 41.4% shooting, 8.1 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals for the Fever, who at 15-16 are in the No. 7 spot in the playoff seedings, 3½ games ahead of the Sky.

Clark hasn’t run away with the competition just yet, but momentum has swung in her favor. This week, sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel and ESPN Bet removed the option to bet on Clark for Rookie of the Year, while remaining books place her odds at minus-10,000.

Both have three more weeks to convince voters — a campaign that will begin Friday in a rematch at Wintrust expected to draw record viewership as Reese and Clark guide the league into a new era of popularity.