Reese, drafted by the Chicago Sky no. 7 total within the 2024 WNBA Draft, is the one rookie to common a double-double on the season.
To all of the critics who doubted Angel Reese, relaxation assured she’s meant for this league. Not solely is she destined to turn out to be a star within the WNBA, she made historical past this afternoon. With some apprehensive about how precisely the ahead’s recreation would translate to the skilled league, in the present day was greater than sufficient proof that she’s poised to be one of many biggest ever to grace the sport. Reese continues to make headlines this afternoon along with her style experience, swag, and confidence. And that confidence has translated into poetry on the court docket.
Within the Chicago Sky’s camp day 83-72 victory over the Dallas Wings, Reese completed with a career-high 18 rebounds and 16 factors. Accompanied by two steals, “Chi-City Barbie” turned the primary rookie in WNBA historical past to file seven straight double-doubles. Eight of these 18 boards got here on the offensive finish, resulting in Chicago’s 48-22 dominance within the paint. Her colossal recreation on the rebounds got here only a week after she scored a career-high 20 factors towards the Connecticut Solar. +17 on the ground, Reese added three assists, and shot 7-13 from the ground.
Positive, the Dallas Wings are coping with a number of accidents nevertheless, head coach Latricia Tramell selected to show a much bigger lineup in the present day.
With Natasha Howard again within the lineup on a minutes restriction, Reese had a discipline day within the early matchup. And she or he did so towards Howard, Monique Billings, Teaira McCowan, Morgan Bertsch, and Stephanie Soares—the third-leading group in rebounds per recreation (35.8). For the file, not a type of front-court gamers is listed beneath 6 foot 2. Her monumental efficiency was actually a testomony to who Reese is, particularly towards a Dallas group that ranks second within the league in paint factors. It is a powerful job to win within the WNBA, not to mention rebound over ladies who’re 6 foot 5 and above.
Angel Reese makes WNBA historical past by having her seventh consecutive recreation with a double-double the rookie file was held by Tina Charles beforehand pic.twitter.com/Jy653XSBCd
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) June 20, 2024
In truth, in her post-game interview, she admitted she watched a number of movies about Dallas. At all times up for the “soiled work,” Reese expressed her want to take action.
“I am going to step in, I am going to mess up my nails, lashes, and stuff like that, only for my teammates,” stated Reese in a social media submit by the Chicago Sky. “I am keen to do no matter for this group.” She represents attributes each group would need for of their franchise begin, coronary heart, grit, hustle, and so forth.
She now enters right into a dialog with historic athletes who paved the best way for ladies’s basketball. A number of the greats to ever step foot on the court— Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne, and Candace Parker, to call just a few. On tempo to interrupt Fowles’s season offensive rebounding file, Reese has nothing however reward for the ladies who have been the early trailblazers in ladies’s basketball. Third within the league in rebounds, Reese leads all the WNBA with 68 offensive rebounds. That places her forward of a few of most elite— A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Alyssa Thomas.
Reminding the broadcasters she has an in depth relationship with Fowles, Reese doubled down on her want to win.
“I simply need to do no matter it takes to win, and rebounding is what I do to win,” stated Reese postgame.
Together with her seven-straight double-double, Reese is off to a historic rookie season, chasing Fowles for the file at simply 22 years previous. With 11 rebounds on the half, the Baltimore native broke earlier double-double data set by Cindy Brown and Tina Charles. Averaging 12.4 factors and 10.8 rebounds on the season, she’s the one rookie to common double figures this season. With the unlucky damage information to Cameron Brink, she’s now set herself far aside within the rookie class.
Angel, you gotta cease. Your recreation too powerful. Your swag too totally different. #skytown pic.twitter.com/dx6VoLeXlg
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) June 20, 2024
The Sky was beforehand driving a four-game skid earlier than in the present day, marking losses towards the Dream, Solar, Mystics, and Fever. Reese and her teammates gave the youthful followers one thing to cheer about within the first of Chicago’s annual Camp Day video games. Not new to the league, Camp Day permits children to attend an WNBA recreation, maybe for the primary time. A glimpse at their favourite gamers is particular on this present day, as it’s essential for the publicity and pleasure of ladies’s basketball at a younger age. With 1000’s of youngsters in attendance, Reese was ecstatic to obtain the victory when requested about her private efficiency.
“Man, I am simply completely satisfied we lastly gained,” Reese instructed ESPN. “I am excited to be on this league, and win some extra.”
Second behind Caitlin Clark in factors, Reese leads all the rookie class in rebounds per recreation (10.8), charity stripe makes an attempt and makes, discipline purpose makes an attempt and makes, and steals. She’s definitely making her case for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Yr Award.
Whereas a lot chatter has surrounded different gamers, we won’t neglect Reese, a bonafide nationwide champion and four-year star at LSU below head coach Kim Mulkey. Drafted alongside Gamecock legend Kamilla Cardoso, many questioned how the school rivals would slot in Teresa Weatherspoon’s entrance court docket. Whereas there are contentious instances with the media, she continues to place up spectacular numbers night time in and night time out.
Standing at 6 foot 3, Reese additionally put up a double towards the Fever, Mystics, Solar, Dream, and Liberty. Out of these seven video games, three of these groups are within the prime 5 by way of rebounding. Right this moment, we noticed relentless aggression to rebound and put again a number of second-chance alternatives. A constant mid-range or outdoors jumper would make Reese a triple risk.
Admitting she’s excited to develop on ESPN, she’s a real candidate for rookie of the yr, and retains dominating the one means she is aware of how— with successful performs.
Improved to 5-9 on the season, Reese and the Chicago Sky will tackle the Indiana Fever at dwelling, Sunday night.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator and Social Media Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a concentrate on the Ladies’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane at the moment resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration
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