Angel Reese secures 57th career double-double in return to Chicago, leads the Dream past Sky 82-75
CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese had 17 points and 17 rebounds in the first regular-season matchup against her former team, Rhyne Howard also scored 17 points, and the Atlanta Dream beat the Chicago Sky 82…
CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese had 17 points and 17 rebounds in the first regular-season matchup against her former team, Rhyne Howard also scored 17 poin
Read Full Story at Yahoo Sports →Why This Matters
Angel Reese’s return to Chicago as a member of the Atlanta Dream was more than a homecoming—it underscored the growing influence of LSU alumni in the WNBA, where former Tigers dominate both the stat sheet and the narrative. The 57th double-double of her career isn’t just a personal milestone; it signals the league’s shifting power dynamics toward players with collegiate pedigrees from championship programs.
Background Context
The WNBA’s free agency and expansion drafts have increasingly favored teams with financial flexibility to absorb high-salary stars, creating a pipeline where elite college prospects like Reese become cornerstones of franchises. Reese’s move to Atlanta also highlights the Dream’s strategic pivot toward youth and athleticism, contrasting with Chicago’s veteran-heavy roster still adjusting to life post-Candace Parker.
What Happens Next
The Dream’s victory could validate Atlanta’s rebuild around Reese and Howard, while the Sky’s loss may accelerate roster reevaluation before the playoffs. Chicago’s management faces pressure to either double down on veteran leadership or embrace a rebuild, while other teams will likely monitor Reese’s performance as a blueprint for acquiring multi-dimensional post players.
Bigger Picture
Reese’s dominance reflects a broader trend of WNBA stars leveraging collegiate success into lucrative, high-impact roles—mirroring the NBA’s earlier shift toward "one-and-done" talent. The league’s growing emphasis on versatility, where forwards like Reese blur traditional positional roles, is reshaping team construction and fan engagement in a sport still fighting for mainstream parity with the NBA.
