A’ja Wilson has served as a mentor for rookie Angel Reese, who is enjoying a run of scintillating form as her Chicago Sky prepare to take on the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA regular season
Two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson heaped praise on Angel Reese as the Chicago Sky rookie continues to impress.
On Sunday, Reese played rival Caitlin Clark for the third time in their young WNBA careers and put on a show. Reese enjoying her finest performance of the season, and the Sky secured an 88-87 win over Clark’s Indiana Fever.
The 22-year-old helped orchestrate a comeback from a 15-point deficit, scoring 10 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter to help clinch victory. Wilson, the player Reese grew up idolizing, approved.
“It’s huge,” Wilson said of Reese’s performances. “I feel like I said it around the Super Bowl. I was just like that is going to be Angel’s biggest thing: translation.’ Translating over from college to the pros is just rebounding the basketball. She has a knack for it and that’s not what a lot of people have. So, it’s pretty cool to kind of see her flourish in that situation and flourish in life.”
In total, Reese tallied a career-high 25 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Sky to a dramatic comeback win. It was her eighth successive double-double, setting a WNBA rookie record and marking the fourth-most ever by any player.
Reese became the first rookie since Wilson in 2018 to score at least 25 points and grab at least 15 rebounds in a single game. On Monday, 24 hours after Reese’s heroic performance, the Las Vegas Aces superstar spoke highly of the rookie.
A’ja Wilson has been impressed with Angel Reese’s transition to the WNBA ( Image: Getty Images)
“I know there’s a lot that could be on her,” Wilson added. “A lot that could be around her, but she still comes in and is consistent for her team. So that’s huge. You don’t see that in a lot of rookies. I’m grateful that she’s doing that in her own way, on her own journey and in her own lane.”
According to Her Hoop Stats, Reese leads the WNBA with a rebound rate of 21 percent while averaging 13.2 points per game. Reese’s 11.1 rebounds per game is the second-highest figure in the WNBA, just behind Wilson’s 11.6.
Reese’s relentless and confident play style perfectly aligns with the qualities that Chicago coach Teresa Weatherspoon values in her players. The talent on display in college has transferred over to the pros, particularly of late.
“I’m a dawg, you can’t teach that,” Reese told ESPN. “I’m gonna go out and do whatever it takes to win every single night. My teammates rely on my energy, so being able to continue the energy even when we’re down … that’s what I do.”
Meanwhile, Las Vegas has won three out of their last four games, with its only loss coming against the New York Liberty. The 8-6 Aces travel to face the Sky at Wintrust Arena.
