Former NBA point guard Raymond Felton has proposed that the WNBA should award the Rookie of the Year honor to both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, recognizing their significant contributions to the league.
Felton, a 40-year-old who won the NCAA championship in 2005, shared his thoughts just days after Clark and Reese played together for the first time at the WNBA All-Star Game.
“Caitlin Clark has figured it out. She’s playing amazing basketball,” Felton stated via Tidal League. “Angel Reese is breaking records. If the Rookie of the Year race is so close, let them share it. They both have changed and impacted the NBA.”
Felton’s suggestion sparked a lively debate among basketball fans on social media. His idea is modeled after the NBA’s history of splitting the Rookie of the Year Award on three occasions: Dave Cowens and Geoff Petrie in the 1970-71 season, Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in the 1994-95 season, and Elton Brand and Steve Francis in the 1999-2000 season.
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One fan posted on X, “Grant Hill and Jason Kidd shared it for the 1994-95 season, so Caitlin and Reese can in the WNBA. It’s only right this year.” Conversely, another user disagreed, stating, “No, it’s not called Rookies of the Year.”
Another person questioned the logic behind Felton’s suggestion, “Why?” while a different user likened the idea to the controversial suggestion from First Lady Jill Biden after the 2023 NCAA Championship game, where she suggested both Iowa and LSU should visit the White House following LSU’s victory over Iowa. Traditionally, only the winning team has had the honor of visiting the White House, and that year, only LSU met with the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, speculation about Angel Reese’s potential call-up to Team USA’s women’s Olympic basketball team has gone viral.
Fans are buzzing about Reese’s recent trip to Paris, interpreting it as a sign of her receiving a last-minute invitation to join the Olympic squad. Caitlin Clark, however, was not selected for the team.
Felton’s proposal, whether it gains traction or not, highlights the impressive performances of both Clark and Reese.
Their remarkable seasons have undeniably made a significant impact on the WNBA, stirring conversations about how best to honor such outstanding rookie contributions.
