The “Rookie of the Year” race has become more than just a title at this point in the WNBA. Thanks to the game-changing rookie class, especially Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who are neck and neck in breaking records, spectators are finding it hard to name their favorites. However, Lisa Leslie, a standout herself, has a different perspective.

On September 2nd, she took to her official Twitter account and announced, “I don’t care what comparisons you make; both @Reese10Angel and @CaitlinClark22 deserve the Rookie of the Year Award!” For her, both Reese and Clark stand on equal ground, as both have risen to the top and performed beyond expectations.

She even congratulated both rookies for their recent record-breaking achievements. On August 29th, she congratulated Caitlin Clark for her three-pointer record. The Indiana Fever rookie surpassed Rhyne Howard in a game against the Atlanta Dream after securing 88 three-pointers. A couple of days later, when Angel Reese shattered rebounding records, Leslie did the same.

“Congratulations, Rebounding Barbie! I couldn’t be more proud of you, @Reese10Angel,” she wrote on X today. Reese has already become the single-season rebounding leader in the league with eight games remaining this season. She accomplished this in a loss to the Lynx, where she scored 17 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to record her 24th double-double.

Well, this is just another addition to both Angel Reese’s and Caitlin Clark’s record books. Both of them hold a series of records etched under their names: while Clark excels in both three-pointers and assists, Reese is no less with her rebounding triumphs. And that’s why Leslie seems mesmerized and wants to crown both ladies with the title of Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately, fans do not feel the same.

“Please be serious” fans unsatisfactory with Leslie’s comment

Most spectators disagreed with Leslie’s views on this matter. “Just disrespectful to what Clark is doing,“ penned a spectator on X. By the second half of the season, the Indiana Fever standout had been a dominant force. For her, shattering records has become a habit. She has registered her name as the first rookie to achieve a triple-double and holds the record for the most assists per game, with 19.

In her last game, she created a new legacy by recording the most three-pointers by a rookie. And that’s why fans seem a little biased toward Clark. “Respectfully, no. Caitlin’s earned the ROTY title. At the beginning of the season, everyone was running victory laps with how the Fever started and said records only matter when they come with winning,“ added another.

By the time Clark was drafted as the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, she was expected to make a significant impact. In fact, she was often criticized for her underperformance each time she came on the court, especially when she scored just 9 points with 6 assists in a game against the New York Liberty on May 17. The 2024 All-Star took this criticism to heart and poured endless hours into changing that narrative, and she did just that.

“It’s not a consolation award. Clark and Reese are miles apart. There’s no comparison, so please be serious,“ added another user. Even in the final battle of the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever series, Clark made Reese struggle on the court. While she scored an impressive 31 points with 12 assists, Reese was limited to 10 points and 11 rebounds.

“Lisa, we have a lot of respect for you, but let’s be serious for a second,” penned a user on X. Many spectators found Leslie’s remarks on the rookies unacceptable, leading some to mock her for not taking the competition seriously and suggesting that the best player should win. However, not everyone disagreed with her statement.

One of her followers expressed concern and suggested that Leslie limit her comments to her followers. “I love your outlook, and I loved you as a player as well. With that being said, please limit your comments to accounts you follow because there’s a fanbase that won’t agree with you,” the spectator added. It’s indeed true that Clark has a huge fanbase advocating for her.

But the question remains: Who’s better? Clark, with her assist records, triple-doubles, and three-point scoring records, or Reese, who leads in rebounding per game and recently achieved her 24th double-double?