Jason Whitlock thinks Caitlin Clark is leaving the door open for Angel Reese to take WNBA Rookie of the Year... after walking back his scathing critique of the Chicago Sky star
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Controversial sports commentator Jason Whitlock has given his take on where the WNBA's Rookie of the Year race stands, as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese compete for the honor.
The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky stars are perceived to be a two-person battle for the distinction based on how exemplary their first professional seasons have gone.
Whitlock believes Clark has the inside track for the award, but has not done enough to leave Reese out of the picture.
Previously, Whitlock was a tremendous critic of Reese, thinking she did not deserve any of the hype she was getting.
His tone has drastically changed with her recent double-double streak making WNBA history.
Reese has made a strong case for WNBA Rookie of the Year with her double-double streak
Clark has made a noticeable difference to the Indiana Fever despite incredible expectations
Once a Reese critic, Whitlock now believes the Chicago Sky star could win Rookie of the Year
'The Indiana fever were the worst team in the WNBA (last year),' Whitlock said. 'If they significantly improve, if they finish with 10 more victories than they did last year. And Angel Reese's Chicago Sky team finished with two more losses than last year, or only one more victory than last year, why wouldn't that be the comparison?'
Whitlock also believed it was not fair that only the current records of the Sky and Fever get compared.
Both Indiana and Chicago have been floating around the final WNBA postseason place in the standings for the entire season.
As of Tuesday, both are in the playoffs, with the Fever one spot ahead of the Sky on win percentage. Both are one game ahead of the ninth-place Atlanta Dream.
Chicago are in a postseason position largely due to the play of Reese, while the same can be said for Clark and the Fever.
'Angel Reese is legitimizing her case for rookie of the year, doesn't mean I think she should be rookie of the year,' Whitlock said. 'But someone's gotta finish second, and Angel Reese is making a case for second place.'
'And if you're making a case for second place, that means you have a chance to make a case for first place,' Whitlock added. 'And as long as Caitlin Clark is turning the ball over the way she is, and shooting poorly from 3-point range the way she is, she is leaving the door slightly ajar for someone else to come in here.'
