Sue Bird Endorses Caitlin Clark for WNBA Rookie of the Year Following Stellar Performance
Four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird has firmly backed Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark for Rookie of the Year (ROY), solidifying her stance during the latest episode of her podcast, *A Touch More*, co-hosted with Megan Rapinoe. Bird’s comments came after attending Friday’s highly anticipated game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, a contest many believed would serve as a defining moment in the race for ROY between Clark and LSU star Angel Reese.
While the Fever’s dominant 100-81 victory over the Sky turned heads, Bird emphasized that her decision was made long before the game. “This is a game that I think everyone was looking forward to because a lot of people felt like there were Rookie of the Year implications,” Bird said on her podcast. “I personally, ever since the All-Star break, have felt that Caitlin was the Rookie of the Year. She has since just continued to prove that.”
Clark’s performances have consistently wowed the WNBA, and she further bolstered her ROY credentials in Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. The 22-year-old achieved her second career triple-double, scoring 24 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists in the Fever’s 93-86 win. Additionally, Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 100 3-pointers in a season.
Bird also praised the Fever as a whole for their resurgence this season, which included clinching their first playoff berth since 2016. Clark’s career-high 31 points and 12 assists against the Sky left a strong impression, but Bird also credited Kelsey Mitchell for her exceptional play. “You can’t talk about the Indiana Fever right now without Kelsey Mitchell, who is on an incredible hot streak, shooting the absolute you-know-what out of the ball,” Bird added.
With the Fever heading into the playoffs and Clark continuing to deliver standout performances, Bird’s endorsement only adds to the growing momentum behind the young guard’s ROY candidacy.
