The Chicago Sky have high hopes for rookie Angel Reese and she also has great feelings for the City. After helping Chicago score a win in their preseason finale game on Tuesday against Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty, Reese hopped on her phone and sent out an appreciative message for Windy City,

“i’m so happy to be in chicago😭🥺God put me in such a great place with so many amazing people! #Lucky7,” the former LSU Tigers star posted on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter).

The Sky selected Angel Reese seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She was not the first pick of Chicago in that draft class, as the Sky used their third overall pick to get Kamilla Cardoso of the South Carolina Gamecocks, but the team somehow had Reese falling on its lap a few picks later.

And with Cardoso expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks after she suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury during the Sky’s preseason matchup versus the Minnesota Lynx last Friday, Reese will likely have to carry a bigger responsibility for the team in just her first season in the pros.

Based on her performance in the two games in the preseason, it’s safe to say that Reese is truly ready for the action in the WNBA.

Angel Reese shines for Sky in preseason finale vs. Liberty

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Up against the Breanna Stewart-led Liberty, who played in the 2023 WNBA Finals, Reese held her own nicely, scoring 13 points to go with five rebounds and two steals plus an assist, while shooting 6/10 from the floor in just 19 minutes of action on the floor. She definitely had her moments in the game, including in this one where she carved up Stewart’s defense for a tough bucket.

That just showed incredible composure for the rookie. Reese could have settled for a lazier shot knowing Stewart was there ready to meet her in the paint, but she clearly trusted her skills and ability to finish at the rim.

Reese and the Sky ended the game with a 101-53 win over the Liberty. While it was a great statement win for Chicago, albeit in the preseason, it will always be a cakewalk for the Sky in the regular season. The Sky can expect a much tougher (and angrier) New York squad on May 23 when they meet Stewart and company again at Barclays Center. That will be the third game of the season for the Sky, whose first two outings will both be against the Dallas Wings on the road on Mau 15 and 18.

In her WNBA preseason debut, Reese shot just 2/8 from the field but was great at getting freebies during a 92-81 loss to the Lynx. She scored a total of 13 points on the strength of a 9/10 shooting from the foul line and also collected nine boards with an assist, two steals, and a block in 24 minutes.

There is still a lot for Angel Reese to learn in the WNBA, but the promise is there for the talented forward. She is a proven winner, having led the Tigers to a national title win back in 2023 when LSU defeated Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament championship game.

Now, the Sky are hoping she helps them turn things around right away in 2024 after Chicago finished with just a 18-22 record in 2023.