ESPN analyst argues Caitlin Clark deserves MVP consideration: “I am done talking about ROTY”

ESPN analyst believes Caitlin Clark deserves MVP consideration. (Photo from Indiana Fever X/formerly Twitter page)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is having a sensational rookie season, which led one anchor to believe that she deserves to be considered for awards beyond rookie recognitions.

Speaking on The Elle Duncan Show on Tuesday, ESPN’s Gary Lee Striewski asserted that with the way Clark is playing and helping her team be in a better position to compete, she should be in MVP conversations within the WNBA.

“I’m done talking about the Rookie of the Year. She should also be in the MVP conversation. I know it’s gonna be A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart. Obviously it’s a loaded class, it’s a loaded crop of players. But I don’t think you can make an argument against why she shouldn’t be in that conversation,” Striewski said.

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“I’m not trying to go 2.0 here like I did on First Take, but what she is doing with the team deserves more recognition…”

Clark, the top overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, is leading the league in assists—with 8.3 dimes per contest, 5.8 rebounds, a team-high 17.8 points and 1.4 steals in 35 minutes of play.

More importantly, she has helped Indiana (13-15) will itself into playoff contention following a rough 1-8 start to its campaign.

Caitlin Clark making her way to WNBA assist record

The Fever rookie has impressed not just with her all-around game but also with the way she facilitates on the floor. This has put her on track to set a new league assist record in a single season.

Clark surpassed the previous record for assists by a rookie with her nine-assist showing in the Indiana Fever’s 92-75 victory over the Seattle Storm on Sunday. She now has a total of of 232 dimes, topping the previous record of 224 that was set in 1998 by Sacramento Monarchs legend Ticha Penicheiro.

Clark has 12 games left to break the record for most assists in a single season (316), which was set by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun. It is highly likely, especially if she gets to maintain her season average of 8.3 assists per contest.

“If you’d told me I was going to lead the league in assists coming in here in my rookie season, I would probably have told you that you were lying. But I take a lot of pride in that,” Clark told the media after setting the new rookie record.

Clark and the Fever will return to action on Saturday as they play against the Minnesota Lynx.