Get used to it, Reese steals spotlight at Sky media day
With the news Kamilla Cardoso and Brynn Maxwell are both sidelined by injuries, it seemed like maybe the Sky’s season wouldn't be all about the rookies after all.
Angel Reese had other ideas.
The former LSU star made entertainment news by attending the Met Gala in New York on Monday. She was back in Chicago in time for shootaround the next morning, played a preseason game against the New York Liberty, then showed how her interview game is at another level during Wednesday's Sky media day.
Here's a small sample of Reese's most memorable quotes:
“Growing up, my grandma just always had my lashes and hair done up. I always felt I wanted to be the cute, pretty girl on the court, but I also wanted to be a dog and have that dog mentality.”
On Chicago sports stars Caleb Williams, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and Coby White showing up to Tuesday's preseason game:
“The celebrities are going to be courtside. The Who's Who is going to be courtside. I was at the Met Gala, Usher is going to try to come up to a game in Vegas, and Cardi B. I know some people you all might not think I know, but I know.”
On playing against the Liberty's 6-foot-6 Jonquel Jones and 6-4 Breanna Stewart:
“I am only 6-3, but I have the heart of a lion. Trying to just play a smart game. I'm an amazing rebounder and if my offensive game isn't going, I'll get going rebounding and defense.”
On finding her way around Chicago:
“I just be posting on Twitter what I be wanting to do. If I want some good food, I'll post on Twitter, 'What's the good spots?' And everybody will just lead me to the spot.”
On her new home:
“I wouldn't rather be nowhere else but Chicago. I'm not going to lie to you. I think this is the perfect place for me, perfect fit for me, on and off the court.”
The original intention here wasn't to write about Reese, but she gives you no choice. Even her recap of the Met Gala trip had an entertaining spin. Not sure if anyone was really against her making the trip, though. It was a preseason game, after all, not the WNBA Finals.
“A lot of people told me I shouldn't have went to the Met Gala, I wasn't going to be focused playing against the runner-ups (Liberty),” Reese said. “I went to the Met Gala, slayed the Met Gala in New York, came back, slayed against New York. It's what I do.”
There are plenty of other storylines to this Sky team. Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon is making her WNBA coaching debut. There's an interesting choice at point guard between Dana Evans, now the final holdover from the Sky's 2021 championship team, and veteran Lindsay Allen. Guard Chennedy Carter, who averaged 17.4 points per game for Atlanta in 2020, is attempting a comeback after not playing in the WNBA last season.
There are circumstances where an attention-seeker like Reese can be seen as a negative, but this isn't it. Nothing is better for the WNBA than players who are comfortable in the spotlight and embrace their celebrity.
The league's announcement about finally using charter flights on road trips can be directly connected to the growing fame of players like Reese and Caitlin Clark. Sky veteran Elizabeth Williams understood where credit is due.
“Angel has 3 million followers, she has a spotlight on her that none of us have,” Williams said. “Rather than having an incident occur, I think this is the proactive take. Charters are huge, just for recovery, for safety, for just being a professional. I think it's so significant.”
Reese probably won't be the Sky's best player this season, but she's played well so far, finishing with 13 points and 2 steals in Tuesday's mega-blowout of the Liberty. No one should get carried away about a preseason result, but a win's a win.
“We understand it's a preseason game,” Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca said. “We have perspective, we don't get too high, too low, we have a long way to go, but we're really happy with the group we've put together.”
Twitter: @McGrawDHSports