A’ja Wilson has served as a mentor for rookie Angel Reese, who is enjoying a run of scintillating form as her Chicago Sky prepare to take on the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA regular season

 

Two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson heaped praise on Angel Reese as the Chicago Sky rookie continues to impress. On Sunday, Reese played rival Caitlin Clark for the third time in their young WNBA careers and put on a show.

Reese enjoying her finest performance of the season, and the Sky secured an 88-87 win over Clark’s Indiana Fever. The 22-year-old helped orchestrate a comeback from a 15-point deficit, scoring 10 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter to help clinch victory.

Wilson, the player Reese grew up idolizing, approved. On Sunday, Angel Reese had the best performance of her young WNBA career when the Chicago Sky defeated the Indiana Fever by a final score of 88-87.

 

This win marked Reese’s first win over Caitlin Clark since the two met in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship between the LSU Tigers and the lowa Hawkeyes.

Reese recorded her eighth-straight double-double in the win, which is a WNBA rookie record and the fourth-most ever by any player. She tallied 25 points, a career-high, and 16 rebounds.

On Monday, just one day after the Reese vs. Clark clash, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson spoke with the media about Reese and gave an honest review.

Chicago Sky forward Aпgel Reese reacts after defeatiпg the Iпdiaпa Fever at Wiпtrυst Areпa Kamil Krzaczyпski-USA TODAY Sports© Provided by Athloп Sports

 

“It’s huge. I feel like I said it around the Super Bowl. I was just like that is going to be Angel’s biggest thing: translation.’ Translating over from college to the pros is just rebounding the basketball. She has a knack for it and that’s not what a lot of people have. So, it’s pretty cool to kind of see her flourish in that situation and flourish in life,” Wilson said.

Reese is averaging 11.1 rebounds per game, the second-most in the WNBA, behind Wilson, who is averaging 11.6.

Wilson continued, “I know there’s a lot that could be on her. A lot that could be around her, but she still still comes in and is consistent for her team. So that’s huge. You don’t see that in a lot of rookies. I’m grateful that she’s doing that in her own journey and in her own way.” (via Fox5 Vegas reporter Paloma Villicana)

Reese and the Sky will host Wilson and the Aces on Thursday, June 27, at 7:00 PM EST. This will be the first time the two teams meet in the 2024 season. 

“It’s huge,” Wilson said of Reese’s performances. “I feel like I said it around the Super Bowl. I was just like that is going to be Angel’s biggest thing: translation.’ Translating over from college to the pros is just rebounding the basketball. She has a knack for it and that’s not what a lot of people have. So, it’s pretty cool to kind of see her flourish in that situation and flourish in life.”

In total, Reese tallied a career-high 25 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Sky to a dramatic comeback win. It was her eighth successive double-double, setting a WNBA rookie record and marking the fourth-most ever by any player.

The Fiery Social Media Debate: A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Brittney Griner

In the women’s basketball world, a heated debate has erupted after A’ja Wilson gave advice to Angel Reese of the Sky team. The advice immediately became a topic of controversy when Brittney Griner publicly mocked them on her personal page, calling them “a bunch of hypocrites who flatter each other.”

The incident began when A’ja Wilson, a star of the Las Vegas Aces, shared a post on social media, sending advice and encouragement to Angel Reese after a tough game for the Sky team.

 

Wilson emphasized the importance of patience, effort, and teamwork, and encouraged Reese to not give up and keep trying. However, not long after, Brittney Griner, a player of the Phoenix Mercury, posted a post on her personal page, criticizing Wilson’s advice.

Griner called it “fake advice” and accused Wilson and Reese of being “a bunch of hypocrites who suck up to each other.” Griner’s post quickly went viral, garnering thousands of comments and shares.

Some fans agreed with Griner, saying that in professional sports, this kind of advice is often just a formality and not truly sincere.

However, many others supported Wilson and Reese, saying that mutual support and encouragement is very important, especially in a sport that requires a lot of competition and pressure like basketball. The controversy has sparked mixed opinions on social media platforms.

Some people think that Griner went too far and disrespected his colleagues. They argued that, while there is competition in sports, unity and mutual support should still be prioritized.

Griner’s supporters, on the other hand, argue that she has the right to express her personal opinions and that honesty in her criticism is necessary to promote progress in the sport.

The incident has not only stirred up the basketball fan community, but also raised questions about the role of social media in creating and spreading controversy. Do such debates actually promote sportsmanship and unity in the community, or do they only contribute to conflict and tension?

Regardless, the story of A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Brittney Griner will certainly continue to be a hot topic in the coming time, as fans and basketball experts watch to see how this situation develops.

Reese became the first rookie since Wilson in 2018 to score at least 25 points and grab at least 15 rebounds in a single game. On Monday, 24 hours after Reese’s heroic performance, the Las Vegas Aces superstar spoke highly of the rookie.

A’ja Wilsoп has beeп impressed with Aпgel Reese’s traпsitioп to the WNBA
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Getty Images)

“I know there’s a lot that could be on her,” Wilson added. “A lot that could be around her, but she still comes in and is consistent for her team. So that’s huge. You don’t see that in a lot of rookies. I’m grateful that she’s doing that in her own way, on her own journey and in her own lane.”

According to Her Hoop Stats, Reese leads the WNBA with a rebound rate of 21 percent while averaging 13.2 points per game. Reese’s 11.1 rebounds per game is the second-highest figure in the WNBA, just behind Wilson’s 11.6.

Reese’s relentless and confident play style perfectly aligns with the qualities that Chicago coach Teresa Weatherspoon values in her players. The talent on display in college has transferred over to the pros, particularly of late.

“I’m a dawg, you can’t teach that,” Reese told ESPN. “I’m доппа go out and do whatever it takes to win every single night. My teammates rely on my energy, so being able to continue the energy even when we’re down … that’s what I do.”

Meanwhile, Las Vegas has won three out of their last four games, with its only loss coming against the New York Liberty. The 8-6 Aces travel to face the Sky at Wintrust Агепа.