USC women’s basketball standout JuJu Watkins recently expressed her belief that Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese deserves to win the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award based on her performance so far this season.
“As of right now, I got Angel,” Watkins stated in an interview with GQ Sports. “She’s been killing it.”
Reese finds herself in a competitive race for the Rookie of the Year honor, contending with other talented newcomers like Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. Despite the stiff competition, Reese’s impressive stats have set her apart.
In 21 games this season, she has averaged 14.0 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, making her one of only four WNBA players currently averaging a double-double. Notably, Reese has achieved a double-double in 14 consecutive games, setting an all-time WNBA record as she headed into Thursday’s game against the New York Liberty.
Caitlin Clark has also made a significant impact in her rookie season. Over 23 games, she has averaged 16.7 points on 34.2% shooting from beyond the arc, along with 7.6 assists per game. Clark recently set a rookie record for the most turnovers in a single season with 127, but she has consistently filled the stat sheet across all categories. In a recent game against the Washington Mystics, Clark recorded an impressive 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, five steals, and five blocks, despite the Fever’s loss.
Watkins, who shone as a freshman at USC, leading the Trojans to a No. 1 seed and an Elite Eight appearance, also mentioned her admiration for Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
“She’s been having a remarkable season already and, you know, we’re not even midway through,” Watkins told Sports Illustrated’s Elizabeth Swinton. “So, just to see what she’s doing this season is definitely inspiring.”
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Reese and the Chicago Sky have three more games—two against the Liberty and one against the Aces—before the WNBA takes a monthlong break for the Olympics starting on July 21.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Reese to see if she can maintain her extraordinary performance and clinch the Rookie of the Year award.
