“You are one of the GOATs of our game.” After Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks won their second National Championship in three years, the head coach had many golden words for one of the best collegiate athletes ever, Caitlin Clark. However, as we step into the second half of the 2024 WNBA season, she doesn’t consider the same Clark as the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race. The race where Angel Reese is emerging as a popular favorite.

In her interview with TMZ Sports, Dawn Staley crushed Caitlin Clark’s stans’ hearts by choosing Reese over the one who she herself called a GOAT. Giving her vote of approval as of now, she said, “At this time — today — it’s Angel. Without a doubt.” For Staley, it was Reese’s double-double streak that put her on top. However, the freshly minted Jimmy V Awardee for Perseverance also gave a warning to both the Chicago Sky rookie and the WNBA by saying, “Caitlin is coming!”

Certainly, a coach like Dawn Staley is well aware of how damaging Caitlin Clark can become once she gets comfortable. That is why, despite winning the 2024 NCAA championship game, the Hall of Famer coach gave the highest praises to the Des Moines native.

She said, “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport and it just is not gonna stop here on the collegiate tour. But when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s gonna lift that league up as well. So Caitlin Clark if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATs of our game. We appreciate you.”

Tonight, the 22-year-old rookie and the Indiana Fever won over the Phoenix Mercury once again. Consequently, they climbed up a rank to seventh, pushing the Reese’s Sky down. This proved that she is ready to bring out the “monster” she earlier talked about after the Olympics snub. As for the ROTY race, here is how the scene is looking right now.

Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese? The ROTY race continues

After a slow start, Angel Reese has caught up with the No.1 pick in the race. She has broken Candace Parker’s all-time WNBA record of 12 consecutive double-doubles in her rookie season itself. Not only that, she is continuing the streak and is currently at 15. Moreover, she is leading the league in rebounds with 11.8 per game. Her dominance in the paint and relentless grind, which has also resulted in the team’s win, has pushed her much closer to Caitlin Clark in the ROTY race.

As for the Fever’s rookie, she is leading the league in most points created for her team with 718 points before tonight’s game. She is also leading the league in total assists made with 188 in 24 games. She is second in the league for assists per game. Among the 2024 draft class, she is leading in all major categories, except rebounds, right now. Not to mention, with last night’s game, she recorded her fifth consecutive double-double. In Indiana’s huge upset over the New York Liberty, she became the first-ever WNBA rookie to record a triple-double.

Overall, these two are going head-to-head. Like everyone is discerning, the final ruling will depend on who pushes their teams to playoffs. We still have a long way to go until October. Hence, we should see who gets to wear the final crown. Until then, maybe they will take the co-Rookie of the Year award as many are beginning to believe.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.