Janice R. Andrews
Angel Reese is quickly becoming known in the WNBA. She became the first WNBA player to ever grab 20 rebounds in back-to-back games as a rookie for the Chicago Sky. This solidified her place in its history. This amazing feat was done both in the Sky’s 82–80 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Friday night and in their 113–108 loss to the Phoenix Mercury last Sunday.
Reese had a great game on Friday, scoring 13 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. She was the first rookie in NBA or WNBA history to have back-to-back 20-rebound games since Shaquille O’Neal did it in April 1993. Even though the Sky lost both games, Reese’s record-breaking performance does not take away from the fact that she is one of the best players in the league.
Tina Charles was a rookie in the WNBA in 2010 and only had two games with 20 or more points. She is the only other rookie to come close to Reese’s recent success. But before Reese, no one had ever been able to do this amazing thing in back-to-back games. Some famous players, like Sylvia Fowles and Jonquel Jones, have had more than 20-rebound games in the same season, but they never did it back-to-back.
Dominating the Boards: Reese’s Abilities in Rebounding
Throughout her rookie year, Angel Reese has shown that she can rule the boards. In 24 of her 29 games, she has gotten 10 or more rebounds, setting and breaking career highs along the way. Before her last two games with 20 boards, her best was 18 boards on July 2 against the Atlanta Dream.
Earlier in the season, Reese made news when she scored 10 or more points and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 10 straight games. She then broke the record by grabbing 15 straight double-doubles. She has now had 21 double-doubles in 29 games this season, which shows how consistent and determined she is on the court.
As of now, Reese has 12.6 points per game, which is the most in the WNBA. She is on track to set a new league record. If she keeps going at this rate, she will beat Tina Charles’ mark of 11.1 rebounds per game, which was set in 2010. In addition, Reese is very close to breaking Sylvia Fowles’ mark of 404 total boards in a season.
Trying to Break More Records and Win Rookie of the Year Award
It’s not just defensive rebounds that make Reese important. There are also five offensive rebounds per game, which puts her on track to beat Yolanda Griffith’s 1999 record of 4.86 offensive rebounds per game. Griffith has a 5.06 average for offensive rebounds per season, which is the most ever. However, Reese’s 5.07 average has already surpassed that mark. Also, with these stats, Reese could beat Griffith’s record of 162 offensive rebounds in a season.
The Chicago Sky are trying to get their season back on track, and Reese’s great play has made her a favourite for WNBA Rookie of the Year. There is a lot of competition, and Caitlin Clark’s acts stand out, but Reese’s historical accomplishments make her case strong.
All eyes will be on Angel Reese as she continues her goal to break WNBA records with 12 games left in the regular season. As a rookie, her unmatched ability to grab rebounds and never-ending drive on the court have made her stand out. They have also made people excited about what she might do next in her already historic season.
