Chicago Sky captured their first victory of the WNBA season, thanks in large part to rookie Angel Reese. Following the win over the Dallas Wings, Reese took to social media to address the criticism regarding her fouling and to make a promise to her fans.

Reese posted a celebratory message on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday night, May 18, after the game, saying, “4th quarter barbieee. Im’a stay outta [foul] trouble y’all, but whew, I’m so happy for this team! FIRST WNBA WIN & MORE TO COME! “

The touching tribute to Angel Reese: A perfect impersonator channels her 6-year-old essence

Reese finished the game with four fouls but played a crucial role in the team’s 28-11 fourth-quarter comeback against Dallas.

This comeback led to a nine-point road victory for the Sky, with a final score of 83-74. She capped a 14-0 run by Chicago with a three-point play at the 6:29 mark in the final quarter, putting the Sky ahead 67-65.

Reese ended the game with 11 points, nine rebounds (seven of which were offensive), two assists, and one steal. Her overall performance was a +17 in the plus/minus category for the contest over 25 minutes played, as reported by ESPN.

Reese‘s second WNBA outing showed improvement over her debut. The Sky had lost the first game to the Wings by eight points, during which Reese was -7 in the plus/minus category over 26 minutes.

She had finished that game with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five personal fouls.

Reese‘s main challenge so far has been her offensive efficiency. She made just 5-of-15 field goal attempts in the first game against Dallas and followed that with a 3-of-9 shooting performance on Saturday.

However, she has shown an ability to get to the free-throw line, making 2-of-8 attempts in her first game and improving to 5-of-7 in her second game. This trend of drawing contact and improving free throw accuracy bodes well for her future impact on the Sky’s success.

Comparisons and Recent Events

Like many rookies in professional sports, Reese is experiencing early struggles. Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever (0-3) is another rookie who has faced growing pains in her first few games.

Reese‘s adjustment to the WNBA has been compounded by other significant events in her life. She recently attended the 2024 Met Gala in New York City on May 6, which took place during the Sky’s training camp.

Although some media and fans criticized her decision to leave practice early for the event, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon supported Reese and her rookie counterpart, Kamilla Cardoso, who also left practice early.

“There were things that were in place for them that we thought were very important for them to be part of,” Weatherspoon told Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “That’s something they earned, and that’s never something we’d ever take away.”

Additionally, Reese recently graduated from LSU, where she won a National Championship Title in the 2022-23 season.

Despite the early criticisms and challenges, Reese‘s positive attitude and dedication to improvement promise a bright future for both her and the Chicago Sky.

With her first win under her belt, Reese is determined to stay out of foul trouble and help lead her team to more victories. Fans and teammates alike remain optimistic about her potential to become a key player in the WNBA.