Rookie forward Angel Reese has started her WNBA career with a bang, quickly becoming one of her team’s top players.
This impressive performance is no surprise to her, given recent comments about her transition from college basketball.
Reese credited her former head coach Kim Mulkey for instilling a hard-working mindset at LSU, which has paid off immediately in her professional career.
In an interview with CBS Sports on Wednesday, Reese discussed her first year in the WNBA, where she’s currently averaging nearly a double-double with 11.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
“I think my transition has been great,” she said. “It hasn’t been a super, big, huge surprise because Kim Mulkey kind of prepared me for this moment. At LSU, our practices were like four hours. We were ready, we were working. I thought training camp was going to be harder, so I think I was really prepared. I haven’t had any WNBA surprises yet.”
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Reese was a superstar and double-double machine at LSU. During LSU’s 2023 national title run, she averaged 21 points and 15 rebounds per game.
Although she couldn’t lead LSU to a back-to-back championship due to a revenge performance by nemesis Caitlin Clark in the Elite Eight, her success has continued as a pro. Despite her smooth transition, Reese admitted to some early hiccups.
“My first game was against Minnesota, and I guarded Napheesa [Collier],” she recalled. “I was getting cooked the first game, I’m not gonna lie.”
Collier, a sixth-year veteran, scored 17 points in 19 minutes on 78% shooting in that preseason game. She’s averaging just under 21 points per game in the regular season, so her performance was not surprising.
Instead of getting discouraged, Reese viewed the experience as a learning opportunity.
Angel Reese aims to continue growing the game and impacting young lives.
“I’ve always wanted to be a great basketball player, but leaving my impact on this game and other little girls’ and boys’ lives is always something that’s important to me.”
She has successfully brought attention to both women’s college basketball and the WNBA, staying true to herself despite outside criticism.
All eyes will be on Reese this weekend as the Chicago Sky prepare to take on the Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark got the better of Reese in their first pro matchup, extending her win streak in their individual rivalry to two games. We’ll see if Reese can get her payback on Sunday.
