The rookie is standing out early this season

These are early days in the WNBA career of Angel Reese, but the Sky‘s new star is already standing out and embracing the grind of professional basketball on a rebuilding Chicago team.

Reese‘s pro career is only two games old, yet already she has earned plaudits for her motor and her defense. The former LSU Tigers power forward has scored 23 points and hauled in 17 rebounds in her first two games, but she is also showing a nastiness on the court that might well be her WNBA superpower.

Reese loves the rebounds

After helping the Sky to an 83-74 win over the Dallas Wings on Saturday, Reese did what she frequently does: react on social media. Reese quoted a post on X (formerly Twitter) that showed her contorting her body in an unusual way while flying in to grab an offensive rebound, clearly pleased that the X user had remarked on her rebounding prowess (“One thing about Angel: she’s gonna get that rebound no matter WHAT”).

In response, Reese simply said “need that (rebound)” with a sobbing emoji.

need that😭 https://t.co/wLL2WDrqNu

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) May 19, 2024

Entering the draft, Reese was viewed as a project offensively, with patience needed to develop her jumper and her touch around the rim. But her defense was already the finished article and ensured that she would not fall out of the top 10 in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Reese was an elite rebounder at LSU and is bringing that talent with her to Chicago. She has hauled in 12 offensive rebounds in only two games, including seven in the win over Dallas — and a defensive impact like that makes her more than viable as a pro, even if the offense (35 percent from the floor, 47 percent from the free-throw line) will take some time to develop.

Reese’s performances on the floor, combined with her charisma and inimitable presence away from the hardwood, makes her a marketing unicorn as the WNBA starts to shift around her — setting up the former NCAA champion for a bright future.

Angel Reese’s marketability and ability to blend pop culture and sports culture >>>

She’s EXACTLY what the big companies mean when they say a blend of sport & culture. Delivers on both ends. A walking example.

— Arielle (Ari) Chambers (@ariivory) May 20, 2024