From highlights to records to an All-Star selection and more, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese seemingly did it all during her star-studded rookie season.
The 7th-overall pick in last year's WNBA draft proved to be a double-double machine in her 34 games played and as many starts. She showed off her prominence in the paint from her first WNBA double-double in late May. Reese ended the year with 26 double-doubles and a record 15 consecutive double-doubles from June to mid July. The former LSU star's stellar season ended in an All-Rookie selection alongside her Sky teammate in center Kamilla Cardoso.
While her strength and ability on the interior were part of what made her a standout rookie, Reese's defense and ability on the glass ultimately paved the way to her first All-Star selection and beyond.
Reese ended the 2024 season with averages of 13.1 rebounds and 5.1 offensive rebounds per game, making her the Sky's leader in both categories this season. She finished her rookie year with 29 games with 10 rebounds or more and three games with 20 or more. It seemed clear she was on pace to beat previous rebounding records set by a pair of WNBA greats as she continued to rack up rebounds from the Sky's Commissioner's Cup matchups and beyond.
Chicago Sky v. Atlanta Dream: June 8
It always helps to learn from the best.
Reese logged her second-straight game with five steals as she locked down and disrupted passes to the paint. She earned 13 rebounds, including two on offense, as she grabbed boards while being matched up against center Tina Charles and forward Naz Hillmon. Charles, an 8-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion, would end the year just ahead of Cardoso for the fifth-most offensive rebounds this season.
The 9-time All-WNBA selection took the time to talk with the rookie phenom following the matchup, saying Reese thanked her for leading the way for her in what Charles called a genuine conversation.
"I just tried to tell her to settle down when she's in the post," Charles said in a postgame conference. "She's an elite player. She's going to be an elite player. That's what she's doing for Chicago."
The two would match up twice more in what would be a record-setting season for Reese. The Sky would claim victory in both July games, one that saw an all-around performance from Charles in Atlanta and a defensive showcase from Reese in Chicago.
Chicago Sky v. Indiana Fever: June 23
It wasn't the first of Reese's matchups in what could be a blossoming midwestern rivalry.
But, in what would be the most-viewed WNBA matchup in 23 years, it would be where she arguably shone the brightest.
Reese played an instrumental role in claiming a 1-point comeback win over Indiana on Chicago's home court. Her clutch layup over Fever forward NaLyssa Smith capped off a 10-point, 5-rebound fourth-quarter performance from the former All-American. Reese would end the night with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the tightly-contested win, furthering her bid for an All-Star selection in front of an average of 2.3 million viewers on the ESPN broadcast.
Reese used her strength on the inside to score quick buckets in the paint over Indiana's interior defenders, leading to eight made shots on 12 tries. Her rebounding prowess led to 13 boards on defense as she tracked down missed jumpers and battled the Fever's bigs with boxouts for rhythmic rebounds. The trio of Reese, Cardoso and guard Chennedy Carter combined for 64 points in the nationally televised win.
Chicago Sky at Seattle Storm, July 7
Reese extended her rebounding showcase when she broke the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles with 13 in the loss to the Storm.
The record was previously held by former Sky and Naperville Central forward Candace Parker, who logged 12 consecutive double-doubles between the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Parker, a two-time MVP who helped guide Chicago to its first WNBA championship, ended her illustrious career with the third-most rebounds in the regular season and the most playoff rebounds in WNBA history. Reese had shattered the WNBA records for double-doubles by a rookie and consecutive double-doubles in a single season, which were held by league legends in Charles and Parker, respectively.
She ended the night with 17 points and 14 boards, including four on the offensive end. Her ability to disrupt passes and jumpers led to four steals and one block. The All-Rookie selection had garnered 27 points and 10 rebounds the game before, showcasing her ability on the interior as the Sky split a two-game road series against Seattle.
Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury, Aug. 18
Reese's rebounding excellence wouldn't stop with a few broken records.
Reese would record a season-high 10 offensive rebounds in the loss to the Phoenix Mercury, marking one of two times the All-Star forward would record 10 boards on offense in one game. She would log 10 offensive rebounds in a close loss to the Aces just one week later. Reese would end the season with 172 offensive rebounds, putting her 60 ahead of Dallas Wings center Teaira McCowan for the top spot in the league despite missing the final six games of the season with a wrist injury.
The 22-year-old finished the loss to Phoenix with 20 total rebounds as she hauled down boards from near the top of the key and battled against Mercury's interior defenders in the restricted area. Her paint presence and improved mid-range jumper led to 19 points on the night.
Chicago Sky at Minnesota Lynx, September 1
From one historic night to another.
Reese became the WNBA's single-season rebounding leader in a September loss to the Minnesota Lynx, according to ESPN Senior Writer Michael Voepel. She tacked on her 24th double-double in a night that saw Reese's frontcourt teammate in Cardoso notch 22 points on 11 shots from the floor. Reese passed former Sky center Sylvia Fowles, a three-time rebounding champion and four-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, to take the single-season rebounding record.
Reese would add 17 points and two steals in the early September matchup. She found Cardoso twice and forward Michaela Onyenwere once in the paint as she logged three assists. Her seven offensive rebounds were more than the rest of the Sky earned combined on Minnesota's home court.