Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky are back in action following a month-long break to give way to the 2024 Paris Olympics. With WNBA stars playing for Team USA in women’s basketball, the league had to put the games on hold. The gold-medal-winning group is back so WNBA action has resumed.
Chicago opened the second half of the season at home against Olympians Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper and the Phoenix Mercury. Sky fans got a long-awaited look at one of the most sought-after entrances in the entire WNBA. The “Chi Barbie” turned heads again as she entered Wintrust Arena a few hours before tipoff.
Angel Reese had an all-Chanel outfit, including a $7,100 metallic gold handbag at Sotheby's. The mini flap served as the perfect complement to a black sports suit and silver shoes.
The Sky featured nearly every player’s pre-game outfit with Reese leading the cast. Kamilla Cardoso, Diamond DeShields, Michaela Onyenwere, Isabelle Harrison and Elizabeth Williams also had their turns in front of the camera.
Reese wearing Chanel isn’t a surprise. She has often worn the brand in many of her entrances before games. The rookie also touted the London-based luxury house’s silhouettes in a few of her appearances during the Paris Olympics.
Angel Reese and Co. had no answer for former Sky star Kahleah Copper
The Chicago Sky decided to reboot, particularly with a loaded 2024 WNBA Draft class entering the league. They traded Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury to get valuable draft assets, helping them pick Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3) and Angel Reese (No. 7). On Sunday, Copper reminded Sky fans that Reese might be the new star, but they also lost someone spectacular.
The 2021 WNBA Finals MVP lit up her former team with 29 points on 12-for-19 shooting, including 3-of-5 from deep. In her first game back in Chicago, the Olympic gold-medal winner led the Mercury to an 85-65 dismantling of the Sky.
A poor first half doomed Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. The long break seemed to have disrupted Chicago’s rhythm. They had a lethargic start, forcing them to trail 30-12 after the first 10 minutes and 50-28 by halftime. Phoenix got all the cushion it needed and fended off the home team’s attempt to turn around the game.
Reese had another terrific night filling up the stat sheet. She finished the game with 11 points, 15 rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block. The 6-foot-3 rookie had an entertaining duel with the 6-foot-7 Brittney Griner who ended up with 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five blocks.
Angel Reese got another double-double but it was Kahleah Copper’s night. Chicago tried different defenders on her but she had her way for most of the game. Reese and Cardoso will be the Sky’s future but Copper had something to say about the present in the Mercury’s resounding win on Thursday.