One of the most influential names in women’s basketball expressed their belief Saturday that Angel Reese has the inside track over Caitlin Clark for WNBA Rookie of the Year honors thus far.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley chose Reese as the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year at about the midway point of the season, saying: “At this time—today—it’s Angel. Without a doubt.”

Staley mentioned Reese’s double-double streak, which is now at 15 consecutive games, and is an all-time WNBA record.

Reese fell to the Chicago Sky at seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA draft despite a spectacular collegiate career at LSU that included a national title and the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award in 2023.

She has already far exceeded her draft status with per-game averages of 13.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals.

As good as Reese has been, it can be argued that Clark has been even better in her debut season with the Indiana Fever.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft has been as good as advertised, averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

While both Clark and Reese have had great rookie years, they have had their struggles in certain areas as well. Clark is turning the ball over 5.5 times per game and Reese is shooting only 41.1 percent from the field despite most of her shots coming from the interior.

Staley, who was a six-time WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player, suggested that the WNBA Rookie of the Year battle is far from over, noting: “Caitlin is coming.”

She also said the Rookie of the Year race could come down to which of Clark or Reese are able to get their team into the playoffs.

Clark has a slight advantage in that department thus far, as the Fever are third in the Eastern Conference and seventh in the entire league at 10-14, while the Sky are fourth in the East and eighth in the league at 9-13.