Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese battled all year for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award while leading their respective teams, and the Chicago Sky stud has received some key advice
NBA legend Dwyane Wade insisted Angel Reese must be “more confident” in her offensive ability if she is to keep pace with Caitlin Clark going forward.
Clark enjoyed a spectacular debut season in the WNBA, claiming Rookie of the Year honors as she cemented herself as one of the best players in the league. The No. 1 overall pick ended the regular season recording 19.2 points, and 5.7 rebounds per game while leading the league in assists with 8.4 per outing.
She led the all rookies in average points while both Clark – who led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 – and Reese were named WNBA All-Stars as rookies. Reese’s season ended prematurely due to a wrist injury, but the former LSU star still enjoyed a fantastic campaign.
The 22-year-old recorded the most rebounds in the league with an average of 13.1 per game, while also racking up the second-highest points per game (13.6) for a rookie behind Clark. However, Reese wants to ensure the debate between herself and her rival Clark continues into their sophomore campaign.
On the latest episode of her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, Reese asked Wade what areas of her game she can improve on. The Miami Heat icon said: “I saw moments this where you did the next step, it’s just about doing it more. You have it. Now it’s about working on it and being consistent with it.
“Don’t go in the gym and work on something, then don’t trust it.”\
Caitlin Clark’s Fever went 3-1 versus Angel Reese and the Sky in 2024 ( Image: Getty)
Reese replied: “That’s the toughest thing, I think people don’t realize that when you go into the game you’re so used to the things that work for you, that are easy for you. That’s why the toughest thing for me is being able to go into a game and just take the shots that I work on.”
But the three-time NBA champion insisted: “For you, it’s becoming more confident in your offensive bag – but you’ve shown flashes of it. When the game slows down for you, that’s when it gets scary.”
Clark and Reese have been linked since LSU faced off against Iowa in the 2023 NCAA championship game. The Tigers emerged victorious, with Reese infamously celebrating by tapping her ring finger to symbolize the championship ring she was set to claim.
Clark’s Iowa got their revenge in an earlier round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament before the pair’s rivalry transitioned from college basketball to the WNBA. Throughout the 2024 WNBA season, the pair jostled for Rookie of the Year honors before Reese’s injury and Clark’s form settled it.
