CHICAGO — Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese is off to strong WNBA beginnings. The 6'3″ forward nearly averages a double-double through her first 10 regular season games. From Breanna Stewart to Alyssa Thomas, Reese has had the chance to go up against some of the best players in the world. She revealed the inspiration behind her growing basketball skillset.
Reese mentioned some elite names when speaking about the players she models her game after.
“I think I'm trying to take pieces from everybody… Tina [Charles], taking my time around the basket. Being super versatile like Breanna Stewart, DeWanna Bonner… the competitiveness of Alyssa Thomas,” Reese revealed before Wednesday night's Connecticut Sun game.
Nearly all the players Reese named have been or are WNBA MVP winners/candidates. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart is the reigning award winner from the 2023 season. Stewart's versatility is captured by elite three-level scoring and the ability to guard multiple positions effectively.
Meanwhile, Tina Charles won the MVP in 2012 after leading the Connecticut Sun to a 25-9 record. Charles represents the Atlanta Dream in 2024, and she shared a special moment with Reese after their June 8th matchup.
Reese said Charles told her she was doing a great job during the game and afterward told her to take her time when she's finishing around the rim.
“[Charles] shows love to me. She respects me and [I want] to continue to build relationships with a lot of these vets because they do love me,” Reese said.
Charles is not the only player with Sun roots Reese admires. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner have led Connecticut to an incredible 2024 start. Thomas is a two-way triple-double machine, while Bonner thrives as a two-way stretch. Thomas performed a controversial foul on Reese during the Sky's home opener, but Reese saw it as a growth opportunity.
The former LSU star's WNBA inspiration has already rubbed off her early in the 2024 season.
Angel Reese wants to continue her WNBA ascent with Sky
Through 10 games, Reese averages 11.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. She amassed a double-double in three straight games between June 4th and June 8th. Furthermore, she leads the league in offensive rebounds.
Despite being 22 years old, Reese has already etched her name in the WNBA record books. Reese became the third player in WNBA history with 13-plus points, 13-plus rebounds, and 5-plus steals with her standout performance against the Atlanta Dream on June 9th, joining Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker. Her interior presence is a problem for opposing teams, and she wants to continue her stout attack.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon is impressed with how Reese has handled matchups against elite competition.
“You see the challenges that's been before her… but [she's] a young lady who is up for the challenge. She lives for the challenge. That's just gonna make her an even better basketball player in this league because she's learning. She's understanding the physicality and the speed of the game,” Weatherspoon said before May 30th's game against the Los Angeles Sparks. “But this young lady fears nothing, and that's the biggest part is the confidence she has in herself.”
Angel Reese wants to continue her fearless approach and cement herself as a WNBA great. One day, she will provide the same inspiration as the one who came before her.
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