Angel Reese, a Chicago Sky rookie, has impressed in her first season in the WNBA, earning a trip to the All-Star Game, and at a recent press conference, she discussed what head coach Teresa Weatherspoon has done for her.
“She meant everything to me.” I’ve had several incredible coaches during my career. But this one is exceptional,” Angel Reese told X’s @MsMeliss. “She understands with me off the court. She understands me on the court. She believes in me. Shots that she wants me to take, she believes in me, and I believe in myself. So being able to come to the league and feel at ease, feeling like you belong here. I remember sitting on the computer talking to her about the procedure or the draft process, and I was like, ‘Please God, let me go to Chicago.’ Like, ‘Please, please, I don’t mind where I drop off. Let me go to Chicago. Because knowing that someone loves and believes in you, not just as a basketball player, but as a human being, is something amazing. And simply hearing her say that I’m okay away from home makes my mother believe that I am. So it’s like a family here, and I feel really fortunate to have coach.”
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The Sky are coming off an 85-77 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, during which Reese extended her double-double streak to 11 games. Reese scored 12 points and grabbed a stunning 19 rebounds. She went 5-for-12 from the field and got five offensive rebounds out of 14 total. Her effort, combined with Chennedy Carter’s 26 points and Dana Evans’ 14 points off the bench, helped the Sky win the game, which is important in the playoffs.
With the win, the Sky improved to 7-11 on the season, tying the Dream for the seventh seed in the playoffs. Chicago is half a game ahead of the Indiana Fever, who are the first club out of the postseason picture. The Sky’s next game is on the road against the Seattle Storm on Friday, the first of two games in Seattle this weekend, with the second scheduled for Sunday. This will be a terrific test for both Reese and Sky.
Angel Reese is turning heads in her debut season.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after defeating the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena.
When Reese declared for the WNBA Draft, it was predicted that she would be a significant rebounder, and that has happened early in her career. According to Basketball Reference, she averages 13.2 points per game and 11.8 rebounds.
Reese will aim to increase her shooting % (which is now 39.7 percent), but she has quickly established the Sky as a tough physical squad. That was the hope when Chicago acquired Reese and Kamilla Cardoso with their two first-round choices.
