The roar was audible – and completely atypical.
While the advertiser of the public address presented the beginners of the sky of Chicago visiting, many in the crowd of Barclays Center showed Angel Reese with the types of cheers normally reserved for the team at home.
The warm welcome was a testimony to the immense Starpower of Reese, one of the youngest faces of the WNBA.
“I love New York,” said Reese, 23, on Tuesday, about an hour and a half before tip. “It’s probably my favorite city to play. It’s near my home, so a lot from my family can come. This arena is legendary. Everyone wants to play here. It looks like bright lights. ”
And although freedom smoked the sky, 85-66, Reese largely encountered the moment.
Reese scored a 17 out of 13 point summit with 11 rebounds for its fourth double-double of the year. Its percentage of goals in the field of 61.5% marked the best of the season.
Taking advantage of a Liberty program without the 6-6 center Jonquel Jones, who seated on Tuesday with an ankle injury, Reese scored seven points and collected six rebounds in the first quarter.
Reese delivered a pair of layoffs in the first half on offensive rebounds, but it has also demonstrated an ability to mark other ways.
She emptied a rider from the first quarter to Kennedy Burke. Later in the quarter, Reese has drilled a 3 -point – his second of the season.
In the second quarter, Reese finished a dismissal of driving thanks to the contact of Leonie Fiebich. And in the fourth, Reese went directly to Breanna Stewart for another dismissal.
The night was not entirely fluid for Reese, who committed five reversals and was accused of a blatant fault in the third quarter after she struck Fiebich on the ground when they ran on the ground.
Reese remained visibly frustrated in this third quarter after contact twice without carrying, which led to blocks of Natasha Cloud and Stewart.
But overall, Tuesday’s performance was a highlight of what was an unequal start for the second season of Reese.
The 6-3 striker entered the match with an average of 12.3 rebounds of the WNBA per match, but his 9.1 points on a shot of 30.9% were considerably down his Recruue Statline.
The worst match of Reese came during the previous meeting of the Sky with The Liberty, when it scored two points of the season in shooting 0 out of 8 in one defeat of 99-74 in Chicago. Jones blocked two of Reese shots in this match of May 22, while Stewart and Nyara blocked Sabally once each.
“I will continue to say that I trust my own work,” said Reese on Tuesday. “I lowered my head and work every day. I do not give up anything. I watch a film. I criticize myself the most. I know it will translate. “
Born in Baltimore, Reese began her university career in Maryland, then obtained a huge audience after her transfer to LSU, where she became known as “Bayou Barbie” in the blink of an eye to her confident character and style.
As a junior, Reese was the focal point of the Tigers team who beat Iowa led by Caitlin Clark during the 2023 national championship match.
Reese and Clark have since been linked.
Indiana fever took the bright shot with choice n ° 1 in the draft of the WNBA 2024, and the sky has selected Reese at n ° 7.
Their back and forth battles continued with a professional level, with their very discussed rivalry – and sometimes Chippy – giving a boost to the WNBA.
“I think it was great for us with Angel,” said Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. “She contributes so hard on the field. She is one of the greatest rebounders I have seen. … She is still a young player who also develops in our league. But the quantity of fans she brought from the university, like Caitlin, I think it’s great for our league.”
Reese established a record of the WNBA last season with 15 consecutive double doubles, the last of which came to Barclays Center against Liberty.
She collected on average 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25, during which she was appointed All-Star; was Clark’s finalist for the recruit of the year; And finished 12th in the MVP vote.
But this season has come with adversity.
The sky has a first-year head coach in Tyler Marsh.
The spacing remains a concern between Reese and 6-7 Center Kamilla Cardoso, whose skills are largely the same.
And the leader of the veteran Courtney Vandersloot, who joined the sky during the offseason after two seasons with the Liberty, tore his LCA on Saturday, bearing a blow to the development of the young players of Chicago.
“Some are just missed, then some are our ability to put it in position to be more effective,” said Marsh about the start of the start of the season of Reese. “I think it’s a double -meaning street from this point of view.”
The WNBA has established audience and presence records last season, with the infusion of young talents deserving a large part of the credit for the fast boom.
Referring to Clark, Reese said last June that WNBA growth was “not only because of a person” but “because of me too”.
Tuesday acclamations at Barclays Center seemed to support this.
“I love being here,” said Reese before the match. “This environment is great. Fans, sometimes I have the impression of being there for Chicago more than New York, because they support us so much here on the road.”
