WNBA Star A’ja Wilson Shares Honest Thoughts On Angel Reese

CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 27: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky after a game on June 27,2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Las Vegas Aces two-time MVP A’ja Wilson and Chicago Sky rookie standout Angel Reese faced off against each other for the first time on Thursday.

Both players showed off their considerable talents. Wilson scored a game-high 31 points on 10-of-19 shooting in the Aces’ 95-83 win, while Reese (18 points, 11 rebounds) produced her ninth-straight double-double in a losing cause.

After the game, Wilson heaped some serious praise on Reese, who is battling Caitlin Clark to be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

“The biggest thing that I see from Angel is just her speed and her want to get the basketball,” Wilson said, via Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “I feel like you don’t see that from a lot of players all the time — that second and third effort to go get the basketball. And she has that in her.”

Reese’s nine straight double-doubles ties the WNBA single-season record, previously set by the legendary Candace Parker, who recently dished out some business advice for Reese and Clark.

“Taking ownership of your brand is number one,” Parker said. “I think that’s super important. There’s a lot of times as athletes that you don’t ask the questions that you should. You give it off to somebody because of time, and I understand, but the earlier that you understand the business element of stuff and the more you ask questions, I’ve learned the more people want to help.”

The next opportunity to see Wilson and Reese battle will be July 16, while the latter will look to break Parker’s record when the Sky host the Minnesota Lynx this Sunday.