Sky rookie Angel Reese extended her record-breaking double-double streak to 15 straight games on Thursday, despite her team’s loss to the WNBA’s best Liberty.
“I don’t know why the basketball gods keep blessing me. I don’t know how it happens. Tonight wasn’t a good night, but there’s always another day,” Reese said after finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 91-76 loss to the Liberty at Barclays Center.
The former Louisiana State star was averaging 15.8 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on Thursday but surprised fans by limping off the court in the third quarter.
freedom. Michel Farsi of the New York Post
But she quickly got back in the game.
“She works just as hard as anybody on our team. She’s out there to win, not just for records,” said Chicago head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, a former WNBA star who spent seven seasons with the Liberty. “She works hard, and every time you look at the stat sheet, she’s putting up double-doubles.”
Before the game, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello described Reese and Chicago center Camila Cardozo as “tough.”
“They are so active that we have to physically block them off,” she said.
It is no exaggeration to say that Brondello’s strategy was successful.
“We created a difficult situation for her. [Reese]”She still got a double-double so the fans are happy. She’s a tough competitor so we have to stay focused and that’s exactly what our girls did. They did a good job against her and that’s what led to the win tonight,” Brondello said.
At Barclays Center. Michel Farsi of the New York Post
Cardozo finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
Despite the Liberty (19-4) winning, Chicago (9-13) has a chance to tie the score again Saturday in the Windy City.
“We’re learning and we’re growing. We’re playing a great basketball team. Let’s not forget what kind of team they are. Their teamwork is unbelievable. This game is about the run. They have the run and they can come back and get the crowd going,” Weatherspoon said. “We’re going to get better by playing to our strengths and learning how to stop the run and get our own run and get the momentum back.”
“Luckily we have one more day so we should be able to get it on Saturday,” Reese said.
