The WNBA’s post-Olympic action brought a thrilling return for rookie star Angel Reese as her Chicago Sky faced off against the Phoenix Mercury. Although Caitlin Clark’s return is just around the corner, Reese made her mark early on Thursday night.
In the first quarter, with the Sky trailing 15-2, Reese delivered a standout moment. Guard Lindsay Allen lobbed a high pass to Reese, who caught it mid-air, scored the basket, and drew a foul from Natasha Cloud. Reese completed the and-one play, cutting Chicago’s deficit to ten points with plenty of time left in the game.
Angel Reese gets the and-1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qSH90Ooqki
— Marquee Sky (@SkyMarquee) August 16, 2024
Despite Reese’s impressive play, the Sky couldn’t keep up with the Mercury’s stars. Phoenix dominated the game, securing an 85-65 victory. Kahleah Copper led the charge with 29 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while Brittney Griner added 23 points on an impressive 10-of-12 shooting, along with nine rebounds and six assists. Diana Taurasi, who missed the Gold Medal Match against France, contributed 11 points, two rebounds, and four assists.
Reese finished with a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds but struggled with her shooting, hitting only 4-of-14 from the field. Dana Evans led the Sky with 14 points off the bench, and Kamila Cardoso added ten points and five rebounds.
Reese is locked in a close race for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award with Caitlin Clark. Reese averages a double-double with 13.5 points and a league-second-best 11.9 rebounds per game, while Clark is averaging 17.1 points (14th in the league) and leading the league with 8.2 assists per game.
