How did Angel Reese fare in her All-Star rookie season?
The 6-foot-3 forward finished her rookie year with averages of 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Her first season with the Sky was highlighted by an All-Star selection, which added to an already-impressive rookie campaign that saw her break double-double and single-season rebounding records.
Sky rookies have shown their excellence at the highest level since forward Candice Dupree joined the league's All-Rookie team in 2006. Dupree was the first of a prestigious group of 11 other Sky players who were honored with an All-Rookie selection since 2005. Reese joined center Kamilla Cardoso in highlighting a defining 2024 All-Rookie team, one that included Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson and New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich.
Offense: B-
Reese took third place on the Sky's roster in points per game. She was by far and away the team's leader in offensive rebounds, posting an impressive 5.1 offensive boards per game and a total of 172 throughout her 34 games played.
Though she mostly found her success on offense in the restricted area, she started to show more confidence from the mid-range and beyond as her stellar season went on. She saw a sharp increase in her percentage of points from the mid-range as the summer went on, going from 3% in May to just under 12% in August.
While she showed her proficiency on the boards on offense, her finishing and outside shot still have a ways to go.
Reese ended the 2024 season with a 39.1% field goal percentage. Her 41.4% clip from eight feet or less put her behind Washington Mystics center Shakira Austin at last place among those who attempted five shots or more from that distance. Reese must improve her efficiency from the floor before she can take the next step on offense and become the prolific scorer she was at LSU and Maryland.
Defense: A
Reese did an excellent job at containing opponent options on the perimeter and tracking down rebounds on the defensive end. She ended her rookie season with 1.3 steals per game as she read her matchups and reacted well to potential drives and possession-saving passes. Her defensive smarts allowed her to switch and pick off passes with ease, making her a valuable part of a Sky squad in need of more defensive options.
Along with providing a decent amount of pressure as a solo and help defender, Reese expertly tracked down missed shots on the defensive end in her rookie year.
Reese finished second in the league in defensive rebounds per game with 8.1. She placed just behind Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, who earned a spot on the league's All-Defensive First Team and took second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Reese brought down as many as 14 defensive rebounds in two games, once in a win over the Atlanta Dream and again in a loss to the Aces.