The rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has taken another refreshing turn. Who is going to be crowned with the ROTY honor? Many basketball stars such as Shaquille O’Neal believe that ‘Chi-Town Barbie’ will end up grabbing the ROTY title. While Dawn Staley shares the same opinion as O’Neal, she alluded to the fans another factor that could change the course of the race. 

When asked about who will the WNBA ROTY honor, O’Neal confidently showed his faith in Reese. “Angel Reese all the way,” Shaq said on The View. While he agreed that Clark is a ‘fabulous player,’ his vote is for Reese who has an incredible mindset. 

“She made the comment the other day that she was born like this, and it’s true. Her mentality, the way she plays, no-nonsense, going to say what is on her mind, going to play the way she plays, and I love that about her…She (Angel Reese) is definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race,” O’Neal said in an interview with ESPN.

Carolina Coach Staley who had the chance to watch both the players closely in the NCAA, was asked the same question. Initially being a bit hesitant, Staley named Reese as her pick considering her outstanding record so far. “If I had to pick at this time, today, it’s Angel, without a doubt — what she’s been able to do with the double-doubles” Staley said to the reporters. 

However, she also gave a warning on how there’s another strong contender in the league. 

What does Dawn Staley really think about the WNBA ROTY race contenders?

Staley’s team Gamecocks is one of the only two teams that were able to defeat both Reese’s LSU and Clark’s Iowa. While she praised Reese, Staley believes that Clark shouldn’t be counted out just yet. The season is not yet over and Clark still has a plentiful time to bounce back. “Listen, the season is halfway through, and Caitlin is coming. I’ll say this: Whatever team makes the playoffs, that’s our Rookie of the Year,” Staley said. 

Both the Los Angeles Lakers legend and Staley were not required to explain their answer. For those who missed out on the current happenings, Reese’s performance and stats have been phenomenal. The 22-year-old has been averaging 13.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Not to forget that she is the first WNBA player to have a streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles during which she averaged 15.3 points. With this, she has set a new record in the WNBA history. She is undeniably a strong contender. However, just as Staley believes, it is too soon to make a judgment.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.