Sky win first game of season, Angel Reese sets WNBA record

Sky win first game of season, Angel Reese sets WNBA record

Angel Reese got her first WNBA win on Saturday, and she set a new league standard in the process.

The former LSU Tiger had 11 points and nine rebounds, including seven offensive, in Chicago’s 83-74 win over Dallas. Per Across The Timeline, her 12 offensive rebounds on the season are the most in a rookie’s first two games in WNBA history.

In fact, only three players regardless of experience (Cheryl Ford, Erika de Souza, Jonquel Jones) have had more offensive rebounds in the first two games of a season since the league began in 1997.

One of her biggest rebounds came in fourth with Dallas up, 65-64, off an attempted three by teammate Dana Evans. Reese battled Wings center Stephanie Soares in the paint for the ball off the miss and scored a bucket while getting fouled for an and-one opportunity.

Her start is made much more impressive considering it came against arguably the biggest team in the league. Along with 6-foot-6 Soares, drafted fourth overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Dallas has a pair of 6-foot-7 centers, starter Teaira McCowan and backup Kalani Brown to give the Wings impressive length in the post.

Reese, whose 14.4 rebounds per game while at LSU are the most in SEC history, has continued to excel on the glass early in the pros.

After the game, she discussed the challenges of adapting to the WNBA, particularly against bigger players.

“Knowing that you have to box out and rebound. You can’t just sit on the basket. I mean, in college, I just thought I can just go up there and get the rebounds and snag ’em,” began Reese.

“Like, I have to really box out and actually go up there and get those rebounds because there are bigger players and stronger players than me,” she continued.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1792023018698424626

It might not be as effortless as it was before, but Reese is still just as dominant on the boards, no doubt a promising start to her WNBA career.