On Tuesday night, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese was overcome with emotion as she secured her first career All-Star nod. She had just contributed 12 points and 19 rebounds in the Sky’s win over the Atlanta Dream, setting a new WNBA record with her 11th consecutive game with a double-double.
Reese finished fifth in the fan voting with over 380,000 votes, while teammate Caitlin Clark led with more than 700,000. Despite Clark receiving more attention, Reese’s impressive campaign is shaping up to make the Rookie of the Year race a close one.
Reese expressed gratitude for the opportunity and credited her hard work and belief in herself for getting her to this point. “I can’t believe it,” she said through tears. “I put in all this work and I believed in myself, and now I’m here.”
Clark may have the edge in the Rookie of the Year race for now, but both players are expected to continue their strong performances throughout the season. For at least one weekend, Clark and Reese will put their rivalry aside and team up in Phoenix for the All-Star game.
Reese’s well-deserved recognition as an All-Star reflects the incredible start to her WNBA career and highlights her potential for future success. With an average of 13.3 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, Reese has already shown that she is a force to be reckoned with on the court.