We may safely assume that Chicago has become Angel Reese‘s new home. In her debut season, Reese is becoming one of the WNBA’s most formidable defenders and rebounders, and the Sky are turning out to be the ideal complement for her. Chicago is teetering on the verge of the playoffs.
Reese was a WNBA All-Star and led the league in rebounds per game in her rookie season, despite not being included on Cheryl Reeve’s national team roster for the Summer Olympics in Paris. Reeve and her Minnesota Lynx got to choose Reese just a few months ago.
Will Angel Reese’s passing be regretted by the Lynx?
A deal that is likely to alter the course of WNBA history was finalized by Lynx coach and president of basketball operations Reeve with the Sky the day before the 2024 draft. She agreed to give Chicago the seventh overall pick in exchange for the eighth pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and the option to trade first-round picks in the 2026 draft. Reeve recently guided Team USA to an eighth consecutive gold medal in the Summer Olympics.
Cheryl Reeve didn’t want to coach Angel Reese. https://t.co/pP1ri6jypY
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 17, 2024
Reeve is a well-liked figure in the league, having won four WNBA championships as a coach and three Coach of the Year awards in Minnesota.
Her 2024 Lynx, who are 19-8, have the third-best record in the W and appear to be a title candidate. However, Reeve did not find it appealing to include Reese in that mixture, according to Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse. She penned:
“Reeve passing on Reese was the equivalent of an NBA team passing on Dennis Rodman to take…who, Jarrett Culver?”
Napheesa Collier shares why Angel Reese joined the Unrivaled league 🔥
“Angel is a business woman” 💼💅 pic.twitter.com/VovJqf69cl
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) August 9, 2024
Instead, the Lynx selected USC Trojans forward Alissa Pili, a forward who averages six minutes per night, at #8 overall. Pili has not yet started a game. Without Caitlin Clark, Reese would have been the front-runner for Rookie of the Year, and she looks destined to lead the Sky lineup for at least ten years while developing a close relationship with Minnesota’s standout forward, Napheesa Collier.
In ten years, it will be extremely difficult for Reeve and Minnesota to prevail.
