angel lease Without a doubt, he is one of the biggest stars heading to Unrivaled this winter. Although she is one of the youngest players in the league at 22 years old, Reese brings star power, an NCAA championship and a surefire following to help draw attention to the new 3-on-3 basketball league that will air on TNT .
In his rookie season with the Chicago Sky, Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. WNBA Most rebounds per game in league history. She was selected as an All-Star and became the first rookie in history to record a double-double in an All-Star Game. Off the court, Reese has 4.5 million followers on Instagram, more than any other player in women's basketball.
Photo by Michael Gonzalez/NBAE via Getty Images
Rees will be a member of the Rose Club for the Unrivaled final, scheduled for January 17th in Miami. The club will be coached by Nora Henry, who was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Sparks under Kurt Miller and has a strong background in player development, starting with an internship with the Connecticut Sun.
At the Rose Club, Reese will be joined by Las Vegas Aces point guard Chelsea Gray, Phoenix Mercury forward Karlea Copper, Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, Indiana Fever sharpshooter Lexi Hull, Los Angeles – He will team up with the Sparks forward. Azura Stevens. Gray (32), Copper (30), Sykes (30), Stevens (28) and Hull (25) are all;
Nora Henry said last week that she believes the team's veterans, especially Gray, can help Reese grow as a player. While Reese undoubtedly had a great rookie season, he struggled a bit offensively near the basket, shooting just 39.1 percent from the field.
She will now be paired with a number of talented veterans who will help improve that part of her game. Gray, a three-time WNBA champion, is widely considered to be one of the best point guards in the game. Meanwhile, Copper led Sky to the 2021 title. Both veterans were key members of the U.S. team that won gold at the Paris Olympics, and Reese will benefit from their presence.
“I think Chelsea Gray will definitely help the Angels grow,” Henry said. “It's going to accelerate her growth, not only from a leadership standpoint, but also from understanding floor angles and understanding screening.”
On the floor, Henry emphasized that Reese will bring rebounds to the team. That's been a hallmark of her game throughout her time in the league and even before that.
“For Angel, it doesn't matter 3-on-3, 5-on-5, college, WNBA, she's a great rebounder, right?” Henry said. “I expect her to bounce back…that's what she's done throughout her career.”
This past season, Reese broke countless rebounding records. The 6-foot-3 forward became the first player in WNBA history to grab 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games. She also had 15 consecutive double-doubles, also a new league record. The success of the rebound was foreseen. Throughout his collegiate career, Reese averaged 12.3 boards per game.
In addition to definitely showing her strengths as a rebounder, Henry said he believes Unrivaled will be an opportunity for Reese to prove her defensive versatility. She will also be tasked with restricting some of the world's best players, including league co-founders Nafeesa Collier and Brianna Stewart. The lease will likely be primarily allocated to Alyssa Thomas, Sato Sabally, and Aliyah Boston.
“At 3-on-3, there’s a lot of switching, so we expect she can switch to a smaller guard and really have to sit and guard in space,” Henry said. “Also, getting back to basketball, being able to guard some of the other really good post players in Unrivaled, Fee, Stewie, she's able to guard some of the best players in the WNBA every day or every night. You're going to be challenged to guard, whether they're a guard or a post player.”
“Unrivaled'' will be Nora Henry's first head coaching opportunity. She is excited to start the next chapter of her career with the new sensation.
“I’m so excited for Angel,” Henry said. “I followed her in college and of course I'm excited to see her progress in the WNBA.”
