Despite her team falling to the WNBA-best Liberty, Sky rookie Angel Reese extended her record-breaking double-double streak to 15 consecutive games Thursday.
“I don’t even know how … the basketball gods keep blessing me. I don’t even know how I did that. I didn’t have a great night tonight obviously, but we get another day,” Reese said after scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a 91-76 loss to the Liberty at Barclays Center.
The former LSU standout, who entered Thursday averaging 15.8 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals, gave fans a scare in the third quarter, limping off the court.
Liberty. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post
However, she re-entered the game soon after.
“She goes hard, just like every player on this team does. She’s not out there for records, she’s out there for wins,” said Chicago head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the former WNBA star who spent seven seasons with the Liberty. “She’s putting that work in and it just so happens that every time you take a look at the stat sheet, there she is again with a double-double.”
Before the game, Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello described Reese and Chicago center Kamilla Cardoso as “formidable.”
“We’ve got to physically block them out, they’re very active,” she said.
It’s safe to say Brondello’s strategy worked.
“We made it hard for her [Reese]. She still got a double-double so the fans love that. She’s a tough competitor and we have to be locked in, and that’s what the players were. They took pride in doing a good job on her and it helped us get the win tonight,” Brondello said.
at Barclays Center. Michelle Farsi for the NY Post
Cardoso finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
Though the Liberty (19-4) earned the win, Chicago (9-13) has another shot to even the score on Saturday in the Windy City.
“We’re learning, we’re growing, we’re playing against a heck of a basketball team, let’s not forget who they are. They have a chemistry that’s unreal. This game’s about runs. They have runs of their own, they can get themselves back in and get the crowd in it,” Weatherspoon said. “We’ll be better at making sure we hold our own and learning how to shut a run down and get the run back of our own, regaining momentum.”
“Luckily, you get another day, and we’ll be able to get them on Saturday,” Reese said.