Video: Angel Reese Downplays ROY Race vs. Caitlin Clark, Brink; Focused on WNBA Title

The WNBA Rookie of the Year race isn't at the forefront of Angel Reese's mind amid an encouraging debut campaign from the Chicago Sky forward.

Reese told reporters Sunday ahead of her game against the Indiana Fever her focus is on the performance of the team as a whole. Winning a championship is her ultimate goal over earning individual honors such as Rookie of the Year:

The Fever's Caitlin Clark was the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year before the season tipped off, but the race might be tighter than expected. Reese has unquestionably put herself in the conversation.

Through her first 12 games, the No. 7 overall pick was averaging 12.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals. She entered Sunday's contest with the Fever on the heels of five straight double-doubles.

Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon weighed in Sunday and said Reese deserves to be at "the top" of the Rookie of the Year battle.

"I don't just say it just because I'm coaching her," she told reporters. "But you have to sustain this type of play. If you sustain this type of play, not only will I speak about it, but the world will."

In terms of Reese's overarching priorities, it will be a few years before the Sky are a serious top-four threat in the WNBA, let alone a team good enough to contend for a title. They're eighth in the WNBA at 4-8 and have a minus-1.9 net rating, per WNBA.com.

But Reese and fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso have provided plenty of encouragement about the future in the Windy City. Guard Chennedy Carter has been found money as well, excelling in a reserve role in her attempt to revive her WNBA career.

The vibes around the Sky were pretty rough to end the 2023 season. The head coach left in the middle of the year after having made a massive win-now trade, and the team finished with a losing record (18-22) before getting swept by the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs.

That's a marked contrast from the general atmosphere around the organization now, and Reese deserves her share of credit for that.