'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Angel Reese had an impressive stat line on Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury. The Chicago Sky rookie finished the game with 19 points, 20 rebounds, one assist and one steal. Reese fell a point short of becoming the first rookie in WNBA history with a 20-point, 20-rebound night.
The “Chi Barbie” still had a historic performance as she is now the fastest player in league history to tally 20 double-doubles. Reese needed 27 games to write her name on the record books.
Reese’s 20-rebound night typified her relentless drive to go after missed shots. Half of her total was on the offensive glass, signaling her intent to extend Chicago’s possessions.
Richard Cohen highlighted what Angel Reese did on Sunday against the Mercury:
Trending
“Angel Reese with only the 4th 10 offensive board/10 defensive board game in WNBA history. The first in over 20 years. Joins Yo Griffith, Natalie Williams and Cheryl Ford. Exalted company.”
The former LSU star is indeed with prestigious company. Griffith is a Hall of Famer, a seven-time All-Star, the 1999 MVP and a 2005 champ. Ford had a rather short but quite impressive career, making the All-Star four times in her seven years in the WNBA. She won the championship in three championships during her career.
Natalie Williams was a bit undersized as a center but the former Utah and Indiana stalwart was a four-time All-Star. Williams was a perennial MVP candidate in her first three seasons.
If Reese sustains the impressive start of her WNBA career, she will likely own several more rebounding records.
Angel Reese is on pace to have the highest single-season rebounding average in WNBA history
Following her 20-rebound output on Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury, Angel Reese improved her average to 12.3 RPG. She is slightly ahead of MVP frontrunner A’ja Wilson who is averaging 12.0 caroms per contest. If the “Chi Barbie” keeps her pace, she will have the highest single-season rebounding average in WNBA history.
Sylvia Fowles, considered by many to be the best rebounder in league history, set the record of 11.88 RPG in 2018. Wilson and Reese are on track to beat that mark by the time the 2024 campaign ends.
The most impressive part about Angel Reese’s numbers is the fact that she is still a rookie. When Fowles set the single-season rebounding average six years ago, she was in her 11th year in the WNBA. Wilson, neck-to-neck with Reese for the record, is in her seventh season.
There are roughly a dozen games left for every team before the regular season ends. Reese’s rebounding numbers, already in the spotlight, will be under even more scrutiny as the finish line nears.
