Angel Reese and the Rose Basketball Club claimed victory over the Vinyl in Unrivaled's first-ever championship on Monday. She finished her first season with a league-leading 12.1 rebounds per game, adding to her case to earn the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Reese showed she could work well with a top-tier playmaking guard in Chelsea Gray. The Las Vegas Aces guard made her case for Unrivaled's MVP as she willed the Rose to the top of the league's landscape to end a storied season for the second-ranked squad.
Reese will enter the 2025 WNBA season with a new-look Chicago Sky squad featuring more proven veterans than the previous year, including a familiar face in guard Courtney Vandersloot. The Sky will face more pressure to make the playoffs with their new core, even with their high-potential first-round draft pick in 2026. Should Reese carry her rebounding and defensive excellence into next season, the Sky can end their short hiatus from the postseason on an upward trajectory just as the league enters a defining few years.
What's next for the 22-year-old forward? How can she continue to improve her game before the 2025 WNBA season?
Improved finishing in the interior
A little improvement can go a long way.
Reese had a few early-season troubles with finishing off of drives and with her back to the basket against defenders, which played a role in her finishing her rookie season with a 39.1% clip from the floor. Improving her discipline and her technique in the paint can do wonders in the budding big's growth into a star for the Sky. Reese was able to work with Lisa Leslie on her finishing in the post during her stint with Unrivaled, which can only add to her effectiveness around the basket alongside center Kamilla Cardoso next season.
Tapping into her potential from the mid-range
Reese shot sparingly from the mid-range during her first WNBA season. Just about 11% of her total field goals came from mid-range tries. She showed some confidence off jab steps and when she had some space but finished the year at about 30% from that area. Her confidence stayed with her in Unrivaled, where she continued to show flashes of what her mid-range game could be with a few confident takes.
Reese must build upon that confidence and become a more versatile scorer. With a consistent mid-range jumper under her belt, she can only add to her skillset as she pairs with Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams in the Sky's 2025 campaign.