We can’t talk about the future of women’s basketball without mentioning the “Bayou Barbie,” Angel Reese. Angel is another face that has emerged to the forefront of the women’s game.
The Randallstown, Maryland native was destined for athletic greatness from an early age. Her high school career at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore was nothing short of remarkable as she was ranked as the No. 2 overall player in the class of 2020 by ESPN. Reese was a McDonald’s All-American and earned numerous other accolades at the high school level which just only set the table for what was to come in college.
Reese began her collegiate career at the University of Maryland, where she made an immediate impact. Despite battling a foot injury during her freshman season in 2020-2021, she still managed to average 10 points and 6 rebounds per game, showing glimpses of her immense potential. Her sophomore year is where she started to drastically improve from a scoring standpoint as she averaged 17.8 points. Alongside her offensive production skyrocketing she became even more physical when it came to attacking the glass on both ends which saw her average of rebounds increase to 10.6 rebounds per game from 6. Her jump in scoring and rebounding average ended up leading the team in both categories and it also earned her All-Big Ten First Team honors and a spot on the AP All-America Third Team.
2022, is where the world got to witness the true star-studded personality and player that Reese was as she decided to transfer to LSU. Her impact on the LSU Tigers was immediate and profound as Reese almost instantly averaged a double-double, with over 23 points and 15 rebounds per game. Her relentless rebounding, scoring ability, and defensive prowess made her one of the most versatile players in the country. Reese’s stellar performances led LSU to the NCAA title game in 2023, where they claimed the title in a historic victory vs Caitlin Clark and Iowa. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2023 and earned a spot on the AP All-America First Team.
Reese is also known for her charisma and extremely high motor that smoothly transitioned to the WNBA. During this year’s WNBA draft, she was selected with the 7th pick by the Chicago Sky where she is currently battling Caitin Clark for rookie of the year honors. Reese has recorded an abundance of double doubles, and she recently just became the only player in WNBA history to have three consecutive 20 rebound games. Angel Reese’s offense in this league will get even better, but she’s ahead of the curve when it comes to dominating the paint by constantly pounding the boards. This is the aspect of her game that will be illuminated within the 3v3 Unrivaled space because you can’t simply box her out with one body, it has to be a conscious team effort. Due to less bodies she can occupy more space to maneuver and get putbacks which is so hard to minimize. Aside from her on the court presence, Unrivaled knew that she had to be a part of the league because of the crowd she draws because of how marketable she is. I also loved how she expressed that her motivation for joining the league really wasn’t because of the money. Reese knows to take the next step and separate herself; she has to become a more efficient scorer than just a rebound presence, which shows how dedicated she is to getting better and overcoming the competition.
NOTE: Reese will miss the remainder of the WNBA season with an injury to her hand.
