Thursday night marked the return of Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky as they faced off against Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury, following a month-long Olympic break.
The Sky struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, trailing by a significant 22-point margin at halftime. Despite the tough start, Reese made sure to make her presence felt on the defensive end late in the second quarter.
With just 40 seconds left before the half, Taurasi caught the ball at the top of the three-point line and drove toward the basket for a layup. But Reese, demonstrating impressive timing and awareness, slid over and delivered a clean block, swatting the ball away and sparking a fast break opportunity for the Sky.
Angel Reese with the block on Diana Taurasi.🥶#WNBA pic.twitter.com/CDUtQXbig8
— Angel And Kamilla👯♀️ (@AngelAndKamilla) August 16, 2024
Prior to this game, the former LSU star had recorded just ten blocks throughout her rookie WNBA season, averaging 0.4 per game. But her rejection of a legendary player like Taurasi quickly became a highlight, earning praise from fans across social media.
“Angel Reese with the block on Diana Taurasi,” one fan exclaimed, while another simply posted, “Sheeeeeeeeeesh!”
Sheeeeeeeeeesh! https://t.co/vpKXuVImsE
— AD🍉 (Mercedes2Belts) (@ADLegend21) August 16, 2024
Others echoed the excitement, celebrating the moment with comments like “Angel Reese with the rejection on Diana Taurasi”
Angel Reese with the rejection on Diana Taurasi 🚫👀
(via @WNBA)pic.twitter.com/PiZLJlRmlc
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) August 16, 2024
“Angel Reese with the denial on Diana Taurasi.”
Angel Reese with the denial on Diana Taurasi 🚫pic.twitter.com/PW0TNDiW6o
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 16, 2024
While Reese isn’t typically known for her shot-blocking, the play highlighted her growing defensive prowess. However, her true strength lies in her rebounding ability. In her rookie season, Reese set a new WNBA record for the most consecutive double-doubles with 15, all consisting of points and rebounds. She also ranks second in the league for rebounds per game, averaging 11.9, just behind former MVP A’ja Wilson.