Sheryl Swoopes may not have cast a vote for WNBA Rookie of the Year, but her ongoing commentary on the debate continues to stir discussion. While the former three-time MVP was not part of the official voting process, she has been critical of Caitlin Clark throughout the season, even as Clark dominated her rookie campaign.
The voting for this season’s Rookie of the Year wasn’t unanimous, though it was close. Out of 67 votes, 66 went to Clark, who had a phenomenal year as the No. 1 overall pick. Only one voter chose Angel Reese instead of Clark, preventing a unanimous decision. Unfortunately, the identity of the lone Reese voter remains a mystery, as no one has come forward to claim responsibility for that outlier vote.
What we do know is that Sheryl Swoopes wasn’t the person behind the singular Reese vote. Swoopes clarified on social media that she doesn’t have a say in the WNBA award voting process.
“First of all, congratulations to Caitlin –– very well deserved. She had a hell of a rookie year doing things that just haven’t been done by a rookie before,” Swoopes said. “But I hate to disappoint the people… You all cannot blame this one on me. I don’t get a vote. I’ve never had a vote in any of the awards.”
Despite her well-known criticism of Clark, Swoopes conceded that she would have voted for Clark to win Rookie of the Year if given the chance. On a recent episode of the Levels to This podcast, Swoopes explained that Clark’s performance after the Olympic break solidified her spot as the clear choice.
“I’ll also say this, if Rickea Jackson had gotten more playing time at the beginning of the season, Rickea Jackson would be in this conversation, but I digress,” Swoopes said. “I thought at one point, Angel Reese had my Rookie of the Year vote because she set the double-double record, and for a rookie, that is impressive. But after the Olympic break, Caitlin Clark got some rest, and she came back and completely separated herself from all other rookies in the league.”
Swoopes gave Clark credit for her impressive season but still managed to bring up Jackson and Reese in the conversation, somewhat diluting her praise. She acknowledged Clark’s dominance but did so with a qualification, as if reminding everyone that the race wasn’t a total runaway in her mind.
Swoopes’ complicated relationship with Clark has been well-documented. Even before Clark entered the WNBA, Swoopes had been vocal in her critiques, taking opportunities throughout the season to challenge the hype surrounding the young star. In a way, Swoopes has maintained her stance, giving Clark credit for her Rookie of the Year performance while still subtly holding onto her earlier reservations.
For all the back-and-forth, even Swoopes couldn’t back the lone vote for Reese. Clark’s rookie year was undeniable, and while Swoopes may have had some hesitations earlier in the season, by the end, even she had to admit that Clark was in a league of her own.
As the Rookie of the Year discussion wraps up, one thing is clear: Sheryl Swoopes may not have been the biggest supporter of Caitlin Clark from the start, but even she couldn’t argue with the results.
Clark’s season spoke for itself, and Swoopes had no choice but to give credit where it was due, albeit with a touch of her trademark skepticism.
