Even though she’s the most popular WNBA star out there right now, Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark isn’t a lock to win the Rookie of the Year award this season yet. In this case, ESPN has a suggestion to make her case stronger.

The Rookie of the Year race is heating up, with Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese leading the charge. Both players have been putting up impressive numbers, with Reese recording double-doubles in 10 of her 11 games in June and Clark averaging over 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists during the same month.

Clark’s performance has been particularly noteworthy, as she has become only the fourth rookie in WNBA history to achieve those benchmarks over the course of a month, with two of those four instances coming from her in May and June. The rivalry between Clark and Reese has been the subject of much discourse, but the focus has often shifted away from their on-court achievements.

As the WNBA heads into the Olympic break, the race for Rookie of the Year remains tight, and it will only become more intriguing as these two players, along with other notable rookies, continue to elevate their games. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining who will ultimately claim the prestigious award.

ESPN’s Suggestion on How Caitlin Clark Can Make Her WNBA Rookie of the Year Campaign Stronger

There’s no question Clark is a talented player who has the ability to elevate Indiana in the years to come. But for the Fever star to win the top rookie award, there are some things she has to do, as written by Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel in an article for ESPN.

“Turnovers are her biggest issue offensively; she leads the league with 5.6 per game. If she can help the Fever return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, it will make her Rookie of the Year case stronger,” the article stated.

During her first year in the league, Clark is averaging 16.0 points on 33 percent shooting from deep, 5.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Meanwhile, Indiana is in ninth place among 12 teams at this point in time.

In the event Clark helps the Fever reach the playoffs, her case to win the ROTY award will only get stronger. And if she adds more to the numbers she’s already posting, Reese and the other contenders will be left in the dust.