ESPN analyst Andraya Carter is advocating for greater transparency in the WNBA Rookie of the Year voting process after Caitlin Clark was awarded the honor with a near-unanimous tally. Clark, a standout guard for the Indiana Fever, secured 66 of the 67 possible votes, but the single outlier has sparked significant debate, especially among the crew on ESPN’s “WNBA Countdown.”
The lone vote went to Angel Reese, Clark’s college rival, who was also a top contender for the award. Reese’s season was cut short due to a wrist injury, which has left many puzzled about the reasoning behind the vote against Clark, who had a historic rookie season.
During a recent episode of “WNBA Countdown,” Carter expressed her disappointment with the voting outcome. “Hats off to Caitlin, should have been unanimous, but I’ll stop there,” she stated. Her co-host, Chiney Ogwumike, quickly echoed her sentiments, emphasizing that Clark’s performance throughout the season warranted unanimous recognition. “Ever since Angel Reese had that injury and also coming off the Olympic break, Caitlin Clark separated herself. She should have been unanimous,” Ogwumike added.
Clark’s rookie season was indeed remarkable. She led the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016 and broke numerous records, becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to achieve two triple-doubles. She also set a new single-season assist record with 337 assists and averaged an impressive 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, solidifying her role as the centerpiece of the Fever’s offense.
Despite a rocky start, the Fever found their groove, highlighted by critical victories against top-seeded teams like the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun, though they ultimately fell to the Sun in the first round of the playoffs.
The controversy surrounding Clark’s nearly unanimous Rookie of the Year title has brought attention to the WNBA’s voting procedures. Carter expressed her frustration with the anonymity of the voting process, advocating for transparency: “This is why we would love for the WNBA to make voting not anonymous. If you were the person that had that one vote, you should just be able to stand on it and we should know who you are.” She pointed out that the NBA does not keep voting anonymous and suggested that the WNBA should adopt a similar approach to ensure accountability.
The panel of four female hosts on ESPN unanimously agreed on the need for changes to the WNBA’s voting system during their pregame show ahead of the Sun and Lynx Game 3 matchup on Friday.
As of now, the individual who voted for Angel Reese has not come forward, leaving fans and analysts wondering why Clark didn’t receive the unanimous acknowledgment many believe she rightfully earned. Despite the controversy, Clark’s stellar rookie season stands as a testament to her talent and a promising sign for her future career in the WNBA.
