Reese, drafted by the Chicago Sky no. 7 general 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 grow to be a star within the WNBA, she made historical past this afternoon. With some nervous about how precisely the ahead’s recreation would translate to the skilled league, right this moment was greater than sufficient proof that she’s poised to be one of many best ever to grace the sport. Reese continues to make headlines this afternoon along with her vogue experience, swag, and confidence. And that confidence has translated into poetry on the courtroom.
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 report 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 in opposition to 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 right this moment.
With Natasha Howard again within the lineup on a minutes restriction, Reese had a subject day within the early matchup. And he or she did so in opposition to Howard, Monique Billings, Teaira McCowan, Morgan Bertsch, and Stephanie Soares—the third-leading group in rebounds per recreation (35.8). For the report, not a type of front-court gamers is listed under 6 foot 2. Her monumental efficiency was actually a testomony to who Reese is, particularly in opposition to a Dallas group that ranks second within the league in paint factors. It is a robust 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 report was held by Tina Charles beforehand pic.twitter.com/Jy653XSBCd
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) June 20, 2024
The truth is, in her post-game interview, she admitted she watched a number of movies about Dallas. All the time up for the “soiled work,” Reese expressed her need to take action.
“I will step in, I will mess up my nails, lashes, and stuff like that, only for my teammates,” mentioned Reese in a social media publish by the Chicago Sky. “I am prepared to do no matter for this group.” She represents attributes each group would want 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 way in which 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 report, Reese has nothing however reward for the ladies who had 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 need to win.
“I simply need to do no matter it takes to win, and rebounding is what I do to win,” mentioned Reese postgame.
Together with her seven-straight double-double, Reese is off to a historic rookie season, chasing Fowles for the report at simply 22 years outdated. 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 robust. 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 right this moment, marking losses in opposition to 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 at the present time, as it’s essential for the publicity and pleasure of girls’s basketball at a younger age. With hundreds of kids 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, subject aim makes an attempt and makes, and steals. She’s definitely making her case for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the 12 months Award.
Whereas a lot chatter has surrounded different gamers, we will not neglect Reese, a bonafide nationwide champion and four-year star at LSU below head coach Kim Mulkey. Drafted alongside Gamecock legend Kamilla Cardoso, many puzzled how the faculty rivals would slot in Teresa Weatherspoon’s entrance courtroom. 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 in opposition to 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 exterior jumper would make Reese a triple menace.
Admitting she’s excited to develop on ESPN, she’s a real candidate for rookie of the yr, and retains dominating the one method 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 house, 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
