Angel Reese downplays ROTY award, sharing her top priority as Sky rookie: "Not really thinking about Rookie of the Year"

The WNBA's Rookie of the Year race is something that Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have headlined throughout the entire 2024 season. In the first episode of her show, "Unapologetically Angel," which dropped on Thursday, the Chicago Sky forward shared her perspective on the matter.

While experts and fans have constantly pitted the two against each other, Reese revealed that winning the ROTY award isn't her priority. The rookie forward told her co-host Maya Reese that she has set her eyes on leading the Sky to the postseason.

"My whole thing was like, when I got drafted, number seven," Reese shared. "So I'm like, 'Cool, the pressure is not even on me because I'm drafted seven,' So the pressure shouldn't even be up there. I'm like, 'Cool, I can just hoop.'

"I don't know when it started to break out where I was just in the Rookie of the Year conversation. Everybody told me I was not ready for the league, that's why I was drafted number seven. They told me I wasn't ready, I wouldn't play, I would've cut from training camp, I was not ready.

"Getting to the playoffs is something I really, really want to do, I'm looking forward to that. I'm not really thinking about Rookie of the Year."

Reese started to talk about it at the 19:15 mark.

Reese is right behind Clark when it comes to the Rookie of the Year race. However, she's made a lasting impression on the fans with the way she's played this season. The former LSU star is averaging 13.3 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

The young star has also dominated the boards. So far this season, she's had 25 games of double-digit rebounding. The Sky is eighth in the WNBA standings with an 11-22 record a playoff spot and are barely clinging to a playoff spot,.

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What does Angel Reese think about Caitlin Clark?

Fans have often compared the rookies, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. Even back in college, their respective fans have argued about which player is better. On her show, Reese talked about her genuine thoughts about her rival.

"Caitlin is an amazing player and I've always thought she was an amazing player. We've been playing against each other since high school," Reese said.

While Reese admires Clark as an amazing player, she thinks her fans go too far in some areas. According to the forward, she has received death threats and AI-generated photos of her naked, which were allegedly made by fans of her rival.