In a season dominated by record-smashing performances and sky-high expectations, one name has grabbed the WNBA by its metaphorical horns: Caitlin Clark. But while Clark’s shooting has fans and analysts alike drooling over her every move, another rookie is quietly (well, maybe not so quietly) breaking records of her own—Angel Reese, the rebounding phenom for the Chicago Sky.
Reese has taken the league by storm, leading the WNBA in both total rebounds (a whopping 374) and per game rebounds (a staggering 12.9). Oh, and did we mention she’s done this in under 30 games? If rebounding were an art form, Reese would be Picasso with a basketball, painting the court with hustle, grit, and a whole lot of missed shots from her opponents.
In her latest showcase of dominance, Reese snagged 22 rebounds against the Las Vegas Aces, becoming the first player in WNBA history to grab 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games. If you’re wondering why that sounds so impressive, it’s because the last time anyone in professional basketball did this was in 2003, when Ben Wallace, sporting his iconic ‘fro, put up similar numbers during the playoffs. Before him? You’d have to go all the way back to 1973, when Wilt Chamberlain was still casually rewriting the rulebook of the game. Not bad company for a rookie, right?
Now, let’s not pretend Reese’s game is flawless. Sure, she’s pulling down rebounds like they’re going out of style, but her shooting percentage is less than stellar (.387%—yikes), and she’s got a knack for missing some of the easiest shots you’ll ever see. Seriously, at this rate, she’s leading the league in “shots within five feet that should’ve gone in.” But hey, nobody’s perfect. Even Caitlin Clark has her kryptonite—those pesky turnovers, anyone?
But let’s get back to the good stuff. Reese has already set the record for the most consecutive double-doubles in a season with 15 and has racked up 22 double-doubles overall. She’s well on her way to surpassing Alyssa Thomas’s record of 28 double-doubles in a season, set just last year. And with 11 games left, Reese is on pace to shatter Tina Charles’s rookie rebound record of 398 and might just topple Sylvia Fowles’s single-season record of 404. If she keeps up this pace, we could see the first player in WNBA history to hit the 500-rebound mark in a season. Somebody needs to get this woman a new trophy case—she’s going to need it.
But let’s not forget the real task at hand: dragging the Chicago Sky into the playoffs. They’re currently clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot with an 11-18 record, fighting tooth and nail with the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream. No pressure, Angel.
So while Caitlin Clark continues to hog the limelight with her scoring wizardry, let’s not sleep on Angel Reese. She might not have the flashiest offensive game, but when it comes to cleaning the glass and setting records, Reese is proving that sometimes, it’s the quiet ones you need to watch out for.
