Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was named the unanimous 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year on Sunday. This is not the official WNBA Rookie of the Year award, but it is a highly regarded honor that Clark won unanimously.
Recording unprecedented statistical averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds, Clark added numerous WNBA records in her rookie season. This rookie campaign also earned Clark some MVP votes, as the rookie guard finished fourth in the award that went to Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson.
Wilson won the 2024 WNBA MVP award unanimously. While this was the outcome many predicted, there was controversy further down the voting results.
As these results became public, many were quick to point out Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese receiving a fourth place vote. This vote became especially notable when media members revealed what it could mean for Clark’s potential unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
“It’s unlikely that Caitlin Clark will be the unanimous rookie of the year, unless the voter that ranked Angel Reese 4th in the MVP race was one of the six who ranked Clark 3rd in the MVP race,” Tim Reynolds of AP Sports wrote on X.
While Clark won the Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year award unanimously, this Reese development makes it very possible she does not win the WNBA’s official award unanimously.
Averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds while breaking numerous records, Reese had a great season that was cut short due to a wrist injury.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5)
© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Notable media members have pushed back against the voter who had Reese fourth on their MVP ballot.
“Also — and this is not a shot at Angel Reese whatsoever,” James Boyd of The Athletic wrote on X. “She has nothing to do with this — whoever used a fourth-place MVP vote on Reese should be banned from voting on league awards forever. They clearly don’t take the process seriously and can’t even pretend to be unbiased.”
Other fans and media members have shared similar reactions to this development. As Reynolds pointed out, it is possible the Reese MVP voter could have still voted Clark over her for the award.
Clark is widely expected to win the WNBA’s official Rookie of the Year award, but there is now some real doubt she will win it unanimously.
