Caitlin Clark wants to squash Rookie of the Year discussion: 'Our focus is on winning basketball games'
Caitlin Clark wants to squash Rookie of the Year discussion: 'Our focus is on winning basketball games'
Clark made clear that she's not thinking about individual awards and calls it a selfish thing to care about. Her priority, as well as Angel Reese's, is helping their teams reach the postseason.
From the beginning, some in the media have tried to paint this picture that it’s Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese. Both rookies have excelled in their opening acts, but to call the Rookie of the Year race a competition shows that you’re not watching the games.
Before their teams even played this season, it was dubbed “a budding rivalry” and “a rivalry renewed.” Let me tell you, Fever and Sky have never had a rivalry.
Just this week, ESPN posted its updated rookie rankings and Reese, not Clark, is No. 1.
That’s simply trying to spark conversation and draw engagement.
I know that, Clark knows that, and we all see it.
Just as simple and straightforward as Victor Wembanyama was in being drafted No. 1 and then voted NBA MVP this past season, the same should be true for Clark.
However, it was no surprise that before the Indiana Fever faced the Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago Friday night, Clark fielded a question pregame about the rookie of the year race.
"I think me and Angel would both give you the same answer, like you don't wake up and think about individual awards,” Clark said, visibly agitated by the conversation.
“I know that's what all of you think we do, I know we don't, that's what everybody wants to make this about. But both of our teams are competing for playoff spots. That's our main focus. That's a selfish thing to just care about an individual award and she would give you the same exact answer. I'm sure she has given you the same exact answer.
“For us, everybody can write that, but our focus is on winning basketball games. It's simple as that. It's winning basketball games and that was the same story for us when we were in college. If you're playing basketball to win individual awards, no matter what level you're at, you're doing it wrong and that's not fun and that's not being a good teammate.”
Clark leads all players assists. She also leads all rookies in points, steals, 3-point field goals, and field goals made per game. On top of that, she has completely elevated the franchise and the WNBA — leading to record TV ratings, attendance and never-seen-before interest in the league as a whole.
The Fever already have more wins in this season (15-16) than they’ve had since 2016, and they’re tracking to make their long-awaited return to the playoffs.
Asked about growing the game, she later added that “You always want people to talk about women’s basketball and hopefully it’s done in a way where it’s positive about the game — how amazing the game is and how great the players are…”
Fever at Sky is sure to draw a strong audience on ION tonight (7:30 p.m. ET). And unfortunately, this rookie of the year conversation will inevitably continue for the next three weeks — through the end of the WNBA regular season. After playing in Dallas on Sunday, the Fever are home for six of their final seven games.
The Fever won the last two games in this matchup, but the Sky edged out the last battle on June 23rd (88-87).
However, both teams are very different since then — especially post-Olympic break. And the Sky will be without their top scorer in Chennedy Carter (17.2 ppg) due to health and safety protcols.
