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Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese continue ROTY tug-of-war with dual outstanding performances
On Wednesday, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese continued to make their case for being named Rookie of the Year with dual outstanding performances.
Clark had an excellent all-around game in an 89-84 loss to the Mystics. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft finished with 29 points on 7-of-14 shooting (5-of-9 from deep), five rebounds, 13 assists, five steals and three blocks.
Meanwhile, Reese, selected No. 7 overall, extended her historic double-double streak with 11 points and 13 rebounds in a 78-69 win over the Dream. She added three steals, two assists and two blocks in the winning effort.
Per Across the Timeline, Clark is just the second player in WNBA history to have at least 25 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals in a game. She joins Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas, who became the first player to do so last season on Sept. 5.
When adding her three blocks, Clark's Wednesday box score against the Mystics is unprecedented.
Reese's double-double streak stands at 14 after Wednesday, two more than Candace Parker's previous record she set during a 12-game span between the 2009-10 seasons.
Reese is the biggest competition to Clark for the league's Rookie of the Year honor, and she's closed the gap with her historic run.
Per ESPN BET, Clark (-550) remains the favorite, but Reese (+310) is closer than she's been all year.
According to DraftKings, before the season began, Clark was -800 to win the award, while Reese was in a distant third (also trailing Sparks forward Cameron Brink) at +3000.
Before Reese's double-double run, USA Today reported on May 24 that her odds were at +2600, while Clark (-1000) was a runaway favorite.
Both players have been as good as fans could have hoped they'd be entering the league.
Clark has continued mesmerizing with her elite passing and absurd range from deep. Per Her Hoop Stats, Clark is second in the league in assists per game (7.4) and leads in threes made beyond 27 feet. The WNBA's three-point line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches from the basket.
Reese was a rebounding machine in college and has continued dominating the boards in the pros. Her 11.9 rebounds per game lead the league, as does her 21.3 percent total rebound rate.
The discourse online surrounding the two sensational rookies is often toxic and vile, but we shouldn't let obnoxious saboteurs on social media hijack what's turned into a thrilling Rookie of the Year race.
In the on-court battle between Clark and Reese, we all win.
More must-reads:
- Chicago Sky Star Angel Reese Gets Real on Teaming Up With Caitlin Clark for WNBA All-Star Game
- Reese's double-double record now at 14 games
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Cameron Brink Posts 'Proof of Life' Update as Injury Recovery Goes Well
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink may not be back on the court just yet, but her latest social media post has fans hopeful that her return is just around the corner. Brink, who has been recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered in June 2024, was recently listed as “doubtful” for the Sparks’ game against the New York Liberty, the first time all season she hasn’t been fully ruled out. That change in status is a strong hint that her comeback could happen soon. Adding to the excitement, Brink posted a carousel of photos and a video on Instagram that gave fans a glimpse into her recovery journey. The slides included snapshots of her sideline appearances, mirror selfies and quality time with her family and fiancé. “Proof of life,” she wrote in the caption—short, but telling. “Soonnnn↕️,” teammate Rickea Jackson replied, echoing the optimism surrounding Brink’s potential return. The final slide of the post was a video showing Brink training her leg and knee, giving followers a look at her ongoing rehab work. Though brief, it was a clear signal that she’s been putting in the effort behind the scenes. The 6-foot-4 forward hasn’t played since June 18, 2024, when she was injured in a matchup against the Connecticut Sun. She underwent surgery and has spent the past year focused on recovery, while still making waves off the court, whether through fashion-forward tunnel looks or keeping fans entertained with glimpses into her life. Thursday’s win over the Sun marked her first road trip with the team since the injury. While she didn’t suit up, Brink’s courtside presence made a statement. Wearing a white miniskirt and powder blue jacket, her look quickly made rounds online. In her rookie season, Brink averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 15 games. With the Sparks sitting just outside playoff contention at 10–14, her return could be a critical boost as they push toward the postseason. If she doesn't play Saturday, the next opportunity will be Tuesday against the Las Vegas Aces. But from the looks of it, both on social media and the injury report, Cameron Brink is getting close to her comeback on the court.
Naomi Osaka admits if she wants to face Emma Raducanu again after Washington Open defeat
Emma Raducanu brought Naomi Osaka’s Washington Open campaign to an end with a performance full of confidence. Raducanu, enjoying her best form in some time, has looked sharp since crossing over from Wimbledon to the US hard courts and is now putting together a strong run on both sides of the draw. Her timing couldn’t be better, with the summer swing in full flow and eyes already turning towards Flushing Meadows later in August. For Osaka, though, this was another frustrating defeat by a player she might have expected to beat. In the aftermath, she was even asked whether it was worth facing Raducanu again anytime soon. Naomi Osaka shares thoughts on Emma Raducanu after defeat at Washington Open After the loss, Osaka took time to break down her performance and also spoke about what impressed her about Raducanu’s game. Starting with her own play, she mentioned: “I think honestly I have been working on my return a lot, and ironically I don’t think it was that bad today. I think she served quite well. I guess just keep working on that, working on my serve. I know it’s one of my biggest weapons. “Today the percentages were off, so hopefully improving that. Then I guess just baseline tennis. I feel like from the baseline, like, I was doing pretty well. I think there are certain situations where she got one more ball back and I was kind of just looking and waiting. So kind of getting more accustomed to being comfortable being aggressive. When asked how facing Raducanu compared to watching her previously, Osaka said: “Oh. So when I say I watched her, it might not have necessarily been her tennis. Might have been like interviews and stuff like that. “Yeah, I mean, I watched her in Wimbledon, but I think it is different playing someone in real life than playing them or seeing them on TV. “So I think for me, honestly, it was really good to get the experience, to feel how her ball is. Yeah, hopefully we meet again.” Naomi Osaka comments on her relationship with fellow players Osaka didn’t just talk about the match itself – she also shared how she’s been interacting with other players off the court. For example, the Japanese star was asked if she’d like to get to know Raducanu or other players better, to which she replied: “I mean, yes, but I don’t know. “I don’t know if I’m, like, I look scary or something, but I have been saying hi to everyone for the past year and a half since I have been back, and I think they still think I’m kind of like extremely introverted and/or have RBF. So we haven’t really, like, proceeded past the ‘Hi, how are you doing’ phase.” Osaka admitted she felt confused after her defeat to Raducanu, having played much better than the scoreline suggested. It’s Raducanu who moves forward into the quarter-finals while Osaka once again finds herself reflecting on what comes next.
Bengals finally reach agreement with first-rounder Shemar Stewart
The Cincinnati Bengals have finally reached an agreement with first-round pick Shemar Stewart, putting an end to what became the story of the offseason for the team. Stewart, drafted 17th overall in this year's draft, has finally agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $18.97 million deal that includes a $10.4 million signing bonus, according to his agent Zac Hiller of LAA. Now with this deal done, every first-round pick is signed. The road to this deal was a bumpy ride. For months, negotiations between Stewart’s camp and the Bengals front office stalled due to disagreements over contract language, particularly around guarantees. The team pushed to include contract language that could void the deal under certain off-field circumstances, but since other Bengals first-round picks did not face similar terms, Stewart stood firm and refused to sign. Both sides remained firm throughout the offseason, leading to a long standoff and a lot of reports of frustration from both sides. Despite the frustration and disagreement, the Bengals and Stewart’s group continued to engage in conversations, trying to find a resolution to the issue. And finally, after weeks of back and forth and weeks of controversy surrounding what Stewart may be forced to do, both parties appear to have met in the middle and found common ground. For the Bengals, getting Stewart signed and ready for training camp is a major win. Stewart was viewed as a developmental prospect who needed plenty of on-field reps to reach his full potential. Stewart's absence from earlier camps had slowed a lot of his progress. With the contract dispute resolved, he can now focus entirely on gaining important reps and continuing his development over the coming weeks. Now with this contract done and over with, the team can put their full focus on Trey Hendrickson, who is also seeking a long term deal. If the Bengals can get a deal done with Trey before the season kicks off, they would secure their edge-rushing room for not only 2025, but for years beyond. For a team looking to go all in on making the playoffs, signing Stewart was long overdue. Now it will be vital for the team to get Stewart up to speed with the rest of the roster, and allow him to get as many reps as possible before the 2025 season begins.
Why as many as 100 NFL players are facing fines and potential suspension
There is not a bigger sporting event in North America than the Super Bowl, and tickets are only getting more expensive every year. There is also a ridiculous secondary market for tickets where seats sell for well above the original face value. It is usually fans or ticket resellers going for a quick profit. But as was reported on Friday, sometimes it can be players in the NFL looking to make a profit. According to multiple reports, including the Associated Press and ESPN, more than 100 players are facing fines and potential suspensions for selling their allotment of tickets to this year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs for above face value. Players are reportedly facing fines of one-and-a-half times the face value they originally paid for the tickets, while they are also prevented from purchasing tickets to the Super Bowl for the next seasons. The Associated Press obtained a memo from the NFL detailing the violation and investigation. That memo was as follows: “Our initial investigation has determined that a number of NFL players and coaches, employed by several NFL Clubs, sold Super Bowl tickets for more than the ticket’s face value in violation of the Policy. This long-standing League Policy, which is specifically incorporated into the Collective Bargaining Agreement, prohibits League or Club employees, including players, from selling NFL game tickets acquired from their employer for more than the ticket’s face value or for an amount greater than the employee originally paid for the ticket, whichever is less. We are in the process of completing our investigation into this matter, but the investigation has revealed that club employees and players sold their tickets to a small number of ‘bundlers’ who were working with a ticket reseller to sell the Super Bowl tickets above face value.” If players are not willing to pay the fine, they could be facing suspension from the league. It seems unlikely that any of the players — none of whom have been named, or their teams — would refuse to pay such a fine. It's also one of those moments where you can say, professional athletes — they're still normal people trying to make a quick buck. The most logical answer here is perhaps some of the players caught up in this are younger players who have not yet struck it rich on a big contract or perhaps even practice squad players who are not making top dollar.
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