Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles alongside Angel Reese. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese are proving to be in a league of their own

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated Aug 23, 2024 8:12 PM ET

Throughout the 2024 WNBA season, there's been a tiresome debate over which of the league's standout rookies, Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese, has made more of an impact. In reality, they've both proven to be in a league of their own.

Clark's first-year resume is long and impressive, having already set records for most assists in a game (19) and the rookie mark for helpers in a season (232 and counting), with the all-time spot (316) in her crosshairs. Meanwhile, if the Indiana Fever star maintains her 17.8 ppg average over the final 12 games of the season, she'll become only the 20th player in WNBA history to top 700 points and just the second rookie (Seimone Augustus, 2006), per Stathead.

Further proof of Clark's game-changing impact is her tremendous ability from beyond the arc. According to the Fever, she leads the WNBA in the longest average distance of made three-pointers at 28 feet, 1.1 inches, far exceeding even the NBA's three-point line (23 feet, nine inches).

the @WNBA 3-point line is 22 feet, 1.75 inches.

the @NBA 3-point line is 23 feet, 9 inches.

Caitlin Clark leads the WNBA in longest average distance of made three-pointers this season at 28 feet, 1.1 inches, two feet further than any other player.

League of her own pic.twitter.com/7DLC5yhJYa
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 23, 2024

Clark has received the majority of the hype, and rightfully so. But that shouldn't discount what Reese has accomplished, having also made an incredible mark on the game in only her first season.

Reese's rise wasn't shocking, but it was somewhat surprising compared to Clark's, making it all the more impressive. So far, the former LSU standout has become a double-double machine and an absolute terror under the boards.

The Chicago Sky star has already set the mark for consecutive double-doubles (15) and become the fastest WNBA player to reach 20 in a single season. Meanwhile, Reese is on pace to finish with the highest rebounds per game (12.3) by a first-year player and is only 67 short of the all-time rookie record (398).

New heights for the Barbie

In today’s game vs. Phoenix, Angel Reese became the fastest player in WNBA History to reach 20 double-doubles in a season!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/W1YXo8YWCi
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 19, 2024

Right now, Clark is the heavy favorite (-5000) over Reese (+1500) to win the Rookie of the Year award, per BetMGM. However, debates will continue even after voting decides a winner.

Fair or not, many will compare the pair's successes and failures from now until the end of their careers. But, instead of the endless arguments, wouldn't it be better to sit back and enjoy the WNBA's boom period led by two outstanding players who are only just beginning to change the game for the better?

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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