A Fever colleague talks candidly about his experience playing alongside Angel Reese.
After Chicago Sky wins, Angel Reese silences his detractors with a three-word statement.
After scoring 13 points in the Chicago Sky’s victory over the New York Liberty, Angel Reese’s bench celebrations were just as infectious as her on-court toughness.
After the Chicago Sky handily defeated the New York Liberty this week in the preseason, Angel Reese responded to her detractors. Shortly after Tuesday’s game, she wrote “maximize them 24 hours” on X.
Given the Sky’s ongoing preseason training camp, the post addressed critics who questioned her participation at the Met Gala on Monday.
After turning 22 and realizing a longstanding dream of going to the esteemed tournament, Reese made it clear that her goals go beyond basketball and that taking advantage of every chance is crucial.
Then, Reese calmed her detractors on the court. She displayed her lively personality, which LSU supporters have become accustomed to, while putting on a dominant performance in the team’s 101-53 victory over the Liberty.
With coach Teresa Weatherspoon at the helm, the Sky put on a clinical shooting performance on Tuesday, jumping out to a dominating 13-0 lead over New York.Reese’s hustle and perseverance were evident throughout the game, even though guards Dana Evans and Marina Mabrey carried the most of the load offensively.
On the court, Reese’s passion for the game was evident. She took advantage of opportunities close to the hoop to secure her place on the scoresheet. Her unwavering work ethic paid off as she finished with 13 points on 6 of 10 shots, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
In the third quarter, the recently dubbed “Chi-Town Barbie” made an impression by exhibiting both her personal talents and her influence on the dynamics of the team. Their lead grew to 65-36 thanks to her backdown basket over two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart, as well as the subsequent steal and precise outlet pass that led to an easy layup, inspiring hope among Sky supporters.
Even from the sidelines, the Sky rookie’s excitement was clear throughout the match. In one play in particular, she celebrated a teammate’s 3-pointer by jumping to her feet and performing a unique celebration dance that the cameras were sure to capture.
Cameras followed Reese as she interacted with people on the bench, looking as at ease and lively as she did when she was an LSU student. One particularly memorable scene had Reese laughing and chatting with teammates Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, and injured Sky player Kamilla Cardoso, among others.
Commentators on the WNBA noted that Reese’s entertaining presence when she took a quick break from the action was evident when they said, “The Sky Bench is a vibe.”
Chicago’s preseason campaign started with a loss against the contagious positivity of the Reeses in their first game of the season. The Sky are getting ready for their away game against the Dallas Wings on May 15th, which will be their first regular-season meeting.
