O’Neal and Dawn Staley make no secret of their preferences in the race to be ROY.

Shaquille O’Neal backs Angel Reese over Caitlin Clark in the ROY race.LAPRESSE

 

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have captured the attention of the public and the media for a couple of years. Their arrival in the WNBA has added a new dimension to their well-known rivalry, involving prominent figures in American basketball, including the Los Angeles Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaq has never hidden his support for Reese. The former Lakers and Orlando Magic center has accompanied the Chicago Sky forward in almost every major event of her career for a few years, from her championship with the LSU Tigers in 2022-2023 to her graduation and the 2024 WNBA Draft.

O’Neal has also consistently shown his support for Reese in her rivalry with Clark. In his most recent show of support, Shaq shared on his Instagram Stories a post where Dawn Staley, the former WNBA star, claims that “Chi-Barbie” is ahead of Clark in the race to be Rookie of the Year.

Caitlin Clark tonight

20 points
6 rebounds
13 assists
8-16 FG
+9

The last 3 games from CC have been unreal pic.twitter.com/vCrSMkO5QJ

— WNBA Rookie Watch (@WNBARookieWatch) July 13, 2024

Reese vs. Clark once again

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Staley said the favorite to be the WNBA Rookie of the Year “Right now, today, is Angel. Without a doubt.” Although there are still several months to go before the winner is announced, Staley and O’Neal do not seem to have any doubts about it.

At this point in the season, the statistics of both players are very close, despite their different roles with their respective teams. Reese is the cornerstone of the Sky within the paint. The forward dominates the boards this season with 12 rebounds per game, 13.5 points, and 1.5 assists.

On the other hand, the Indiana Fever guard is the team’s driving force on the perimeter, always ensuring her teammates are in scoring positions, with an average of 7.8 assists per game. Her 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game make her seem more versatile than Reese.

Angel Reese tonight

27 points (career-high)
10 rebounds
2 blocks
8-13 FG
2-2 3P (!!!!!)

Sky win, she’s hitting threes AND STILL getting a double-double (streak up to 12 games) pic.twitter.com/BfUtHDS3Bi

— WNBA Rookie Watch (@WNBARookieWatch) July 6, 2024

Other opinions

Reese has a slight edge in Player Impact Estimate (PIE) with 12.9 points, compared to Clark’s 12.6 points. However, Staley herself admitted that there is still a lot of season left, and it is possible that Caitlin could turn the tables on Angel in this close competition.

This week, ESPN published its rookie rankings. Reese appears at the top of the list with a rating of 2.9, a clear advantage over Clark’s 1.6. However, bettors think Clark will win the nomination. The odds are in her favor at -800 compared to Reese’s +450.

O’Neal has a clear favorite. Staley is aware that there is still a lot of season left. The rankings favor Reese. Oddsmakers are backing Clark. The end of the season will be exciting for these two, and one thing is certain: this is just the beginning of a rivalry for the ages.

Team Canada Basketball: A Complete Schedule of Games at Paris Olympics 2024

Team Canada ((Image source: X/ Canada Basketball)
The men’s basketball competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics is set to take place from July 27 to August 11. Team Canada, drawn into Group A, has a challenging yet exciting schedule ahead as they aim for glory on the international stage.

Canada will kick off their campaign on July 27 with a game against Greece. The first test for the Canadian team in their quest for Olympic success is scheduled for 12 PM MT (9:00 PM local time).

Team Canada’s second game in the group phase will be against Australia on July 30. This early morning match will start at 4:30 AM MST (1:30 PM local time). Canada will conclude the group phase with a match against Spain on August 2.

This game, scheduled for 8:15 AM MST (5:15 PM local time), will play a crucial role in determining Canada’s position as they strive to advance to the knockout stages.

Canada will play all their group phase games at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille.

Should Team Canada advance past the group phase, the men’s quarterfinals will begin on August 6 (Day 11). The tournament will then move to the Bercy Arena in Paris for the elimination stages.