After a rookie season filled with historic milestones and unmatched attention, Angel Reese is determined to turn personal triumph into team success as the Chicago Sky prepare to launch a new era of basketball.
The 2023 NCAA champion and rising WNBA star returns from injury with her sights set on one thing she didn’t achieve in her debut year — winning.
“I wasn’t used to that,” Reese said of the Sky’s 13–27 finish last season. “It just takes an adjustment. It’s something that you don’t want to get used to because you don’t want to get in a mindset, like, ‘Oh, we’re just going to be losing every night.’ We were right there every night.”
Historic Rookie Campaign, Tough Team Results
Despite missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, Reese put the league on notice. She averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, setting a WNBA rookie record with 26 double-doubles, including a league-record 15 straight. Her 446 total rebounds briefly led the league until she missed the final six games due to a wrist injury.
Reese finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, just behind long-time rival Caitlin Clark. Their ongoing rivalry — forged during NCAA battles between LSU and Iowa — helped boost WNBA viewership and fan engagement to record levels.
New Faces, New Direction
With postseason success a priority, the Sky made sweeping changes during the offseason. They dismissed head coach Teresa Weatherspoon and hired Tyler Marsh, a former Las Vegas Aces assistant. The team also brought back franchise assist leader Courtney Vandersloot and added two-time All-Star Ariel Atkins, hoping the veteran presence will elevate Reese and fellow second-year standout Kamilla Cardoso.
“She wants to compete, she wants to win,” said Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca. “With all the time she puts into building her brand and flying all over the world, she still has proven to us time and time again she puts basketball first.”
Offseason Growth and New Goals
While recovering from her wrist surgery, Reese competed in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league and sharpened her offensive skills, aiming to become a more versatile forward.
Last season, she shot 39% from the field and connected on just 3 of 16 from beyond the arc. But Coach Marsh is confident she’s ready to stretch the floor.
“We want her to be dynamic,” Marsh said. “We want to put the ball in her hands on the perimeter and allow her to facilitate and create off the dribble.”
“I always just tell myself if I work out and make the shots I might as well take them in the game.”
Looking Ahead
The Sky tip off their season on May 17 against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever — a high-profile matchup that renews one of basketball’s most talked-about rivalries.
For Reese, it’s not just a personal comeback. It’s a chance to lead her team into contention.
“I think we have the right pieces this year,” she said. “We have the great veteran leadership. We have coaches that just built a culture from the beginning and built the standards, so I’m excited.”
With her trademark fire and the weight of expectation behind her, Angel Reese isn’t just playing to rebound — she’s aiming to rise.
