Angel Reese was a key part of the LSU team that won the national title under Kim Mulkey in 2023. During her time at Baton Rouge, the “Bayou Barbie” was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2023), the SEC Player of the Year (2024), twice an All-American (2023, 2024), twice a First Team All-SEC selection (2023, 2024) and twice an SEC All-Defensive Team selection (2023, 2024). And that doesn’t count the accolades she won during her time with the Big Ten’s Maryland Terrapins.
When it came time to making the jump to the professionals, Reese managed to become a high first-round pick, being selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. The transition was hugely successful, with her being a WNBA All-Rookie Team selection in 2024 and a WNBA All-Star in 2024 and 2025.
Angel Reese credits practicing 4 hours a day at LSU for helping her transition into the WNBA:
“I thought training camp was going to be harder” 😅 pic.twitter.com/P8zaHcN1RG
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 12, 2024
Speaking a little over a year ago about her transition from college basketball to the WNBA, Reese highlighted the importance of Kim Mulkey’s training regime in preparing her for the pros:
“Kim Mulkey kind of prepared me for this moment,” Reese said in an interview with CBS Sports HQ. “At LSU, our practice was like four hours. We were ready, we were working. I thought training was going to be harder. I think I was really prepared. I didn’t have any WNBA surprises yet.”
However, she did recognize that there were some humbling moments in her rookie season with the Chicago Sky:
“I think l’ve had a lot ‘welcome to the WNBA’ moments… I was getting cooked the first game, I’m not gonna lie,” she said.
Overall, she recognized that the WNBA game is played at a faster pace than the college level. She also acknowledged that, despite her good defensive performance, she expected to improve significantly on the offensive side.
In terms of stats, she hasn’t aggressively improved in her sophomore season when it comes to points scored per game. She averaged 13.6 points per game in 2024, and she’s currently averaging the same this season. Her field goal percentage has improved, going from 39.1% to 43.4%.
Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky get upset over the Minnesota Lynx in their first quality win of the season
Until Saturday, Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky hadn’t beaten any team with a winning percentage above .500. That came to an end when the team defeated the Minnesota Lynx 87-81 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
Speaking with ABC in the aftermath of the game, Reese talked back at the haters when the sideline reporter asked her about her teammate Kamilla Cardoso:
“Somebody said we wasn’t the best young core in the league,” Reese told the ABC broadcast in a postgame interview, when asked about Cardoso.
“I think we’re the best young core in the league, for sure. Hands down.”
Reese continued her incredible run, with 19 points scored, 11 rebounds and four assists. Ariel Atkins led the way for the Sky, scoring 27 points, while Cardoso had the most rebounds for the team with 15.
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