ESPN analyst Monica McNutt sparked controversy on the latest episode of Get Up, claiming that Caitlin Clark does not deserve the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. Instead, she believes the honor should go to Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, citing the team’s playoff appearance as the deciding factor.
However, McNutt’s argument is based on a flawed understanding of the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. The award is not determined by playoff standing or the number of games won. In fact, past winners have come from teams with poor records. For instance, Aliyah Boston won the award last year despite her team finishing with the third-worst record in the league.
Furthermore, McNutt’s claim is refuted by the stats. The Indiana Fever, Clark’s team, has played more games than the Sky and has a better record. Additionally, Clark has outperformed Reese in several key statistics, including points per game, assists per game, and steals per game.
The only category where Reese excels is rebounds per game, but this is largely due to her playing a different position. McNutt’s attempt to discredit Clark’s achievements and deny her the Rookie of the Year award raises questions about her motivations. Why is McNutt so determined to tear down Clark, who has brought unprecedented attention to the WNBA?
