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The Chicago Sky earned their first win of the season after beating Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings, but Angel Reese was temporarily pulled from the game in the fourth quarter
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese was briefly pulled during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s 97-92 win over the Dallas Wings, and saw her minutes limited as head coach Tyler Marsh turned to the bench.
It’s been a poor start to the season for Chicago, and Reese has faced criticism with some accusing her of being distracted due to her constant off-court commitments. Reese has since responded to her haters after becoming the quickest player in WNBA history to reach 500+ rebounds and 500+ points, but her current stat line hasn’t led to a winning run for the Sky.
On Thursday, Reese struggled against the Wings as she faced Paige Bueckers for the very first time in her career, scoring just one point in the first half. Reese did boost her points total to six points in the second half, but played for fewer minutes than any other game this season. She has only played less minutes once in her WNBA career so far.
And she spent a prolonged period sat on the bench during the second half in what appeared a tactical decision. However, she responded perfectly by returning and helping the Sky win the game late on.
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Reese has averaged 29.3 minutes so far in her second WNBA season, while also averaging 10 points and 14 rebounds. Against Dallas, all of Reese’s stats were below her season average, and it was the first time this campaign that she’s failed to reach double figures in rebounds.
Although the high-profile forward struggled throughout the contest, Chicago finally secured its first win of the WNBA season to end a run of four-straight losses. Kamilla Cardoso starred with 23 points, while Ariel Atkins also stood out with 17 points, and Rebecca Allen scored 13 from the bench.
For Dallas, it was a tough loss to take after Arike Ogunbowale had a stunning 37-point game, with Bueckers and DiJonai Carrington also scoring 15 points each. Wings head coach Chris Koclanes attempted to deconstruct Chicago’s offensive prowess prior to the game, but his assessment wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.
“They’re playing extremely fast,” Koclanes told reporters. “They’re flying up the floor and you’ve got extremely mobile posts with Angel and Kamilla. When they can play fast and free, they’re really dangerous.
“So, if we can slow them down, that would be great, and then it’s all about second chances. We’ve got to be good early, and then we’ve got to be good late. If we can get them slowed, and then all five rebounding. Those posts are just dynamic on the glass… It’s gotta be a group effort on the boards.”
Although both Chicago and Dallas have struggled this season, Thursday’s meeting was of major interest as Reese and Bueckers met in the WNBA for the first time. Incredibly, it was the first time that they’d ever played against one another.
Reese and Bueckers were both members of the 2020 class, but injury led to Paige spending five years in college as opposed to the four years that Angel played at NCAA level. Reese played for Maryland before transferring to LSU, and Bueckers spent her entire collegiate career at UConn, but they never met on the court.
The Tigers and the Huskies haven’t played in college since November 2016, but that doesn’t mean that there’s anything but respect between the two athletes. After Bueckers won the national championship with UConn earlier this year, Reese posted on X: “2020 class has done so many special things for the game. #proud.”
Bueckers also rates Reese extremely highly, after discussing her attributes in a video with former Huskies’ teammate Azzi Fudd. “She’s just ultra-competitive,” Bueckers said of the Sky forward.
“You can tell when you’re her teammate, she just instills this confidence within you, and makes you believe in yourself even more than you already do. She’s definitely the type of player you would love to have on your team.”
