CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 23: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky reacts after scoring in the first half against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on June 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Angel Reese has now tied an WNBA record set by Candace Parker im 2015.© Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Angel Reese exploded onto the WNBA scene in grand fashion, initially making headlines for her consistent jabs at fellow rookie star, Caitlin Clark. Despite the pair’s rivalry being one of the most talked about storylines for the sport, Reese continues to back up her talk with impressive play.
Reese has now tied a record set by WNBA legend Candace Parker back in 2015, securing her ninth consecutive double-double of the season. The Chicago Sky rookie has been making her presence known on the court, and she could be working her way to a Rookie of the Year nod by the end of 2024.
Reese and the Sky may have been defeated by the reigning WNBA champs, the Las Vegas Aces, but the star-studded rookie continues to showcase why she was taken No. 7 overall. Reese secured 18 points and 11 rebounds on her way to her ninth consecutive double-double.
Reese’s path to tying this amazing feat began on June 4, when the Sky took on the New York Liberty. Despite losing to the Liberty, Reese brought in 13 points and 10 rebounds.
She continued to tack on to her consecutive double-doubles each week, with her most impressive one coming against the Fever on June 23. Reese scored a staggering 25 points and 16 rebounds en route to the Sky defeating the Fever 88-87.
Coincidentally, the game between the Sky and Fever on June 16 became the highest watched WNBA game in 23 years.
As stated, Clark and Reese have become one of the most talked about rivalries in professional sports.
Though they are now squaring off against one another at the WNBA level, they also met in college, which ignited what could be the biggest basketball rivalry since Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in basketball.
Back in 2022 at the NCAA Tournament Championship, the LSU Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes battled it out for rights to the national title.
Reese and the Tigers would walk away with the trophy and bragging rights, but it was Reese’s hand gesture that appeared to spark the rivalry.
Reese mimicked the “You can’t see me hand gesture” made famous by WWE superstar John Cena when the Tigers beat the Hawkeyes in the tournament’s final. Clark had previously made the same gesture earlier in the tournament.
A year later in 2023, Reese and Clark faced off again in the Elite 8, but the victory would go to the Hawkeyes. With the Tigers knocked out of the tournament, Reese would go on to state that she and Clark “do not hate one another.”
That appeared to be the case at the WNBA level until Clark began to garner a ridiculous amount of media attention. Reese would state to reporters that she is also a big reason people are tuning in to watch the league, and it’s not just about Clark.
Reese has since backed up her claim of being a focal point of the WNBA with impressive play. Securing nine double-doubles in a row is no easy feat. Though the consensus is Clark could run away with the Rookie of the Year award, Reese continues to showcase why she could be a strong candidate as well.