Trailing the New York Liberty 81-67 in the waning moments of Sunday’s matinee in Chicago, Sky rookie Angel Reese needed only two points to extend her WNBA record for consecutive double doubles to 16.
But even with the game all but decided, the WNBA-leading Liberty had no intention of becoming a historical foot note. So when the 22-year-old power forward got the ball in the post with 14 seconds remaining, a quartet of New York defenders descended on Reese, all but ensuring her streak would end at 15 consecutive double doubles.
‘Angel Reese has four Liberty players around her,’ said ESPN announcer Holly Rowe as the LSU product was forced to make a desperate pass out of the quadruple team.
‘Fans yelling to get the ball into Reese,’ Rowe continued as Chicago’s guards dribbled out the clock.
‘Double-double streak for Angel Reese is over,’ Rowe concluded. ‘She had a WNBA record 15 straight double doubles.’
Needing two points for another double double, Reese was suffocated by a quadruple team
Fans online were torn over the outcome.
Some felt Reese was simply trying to ‘pad her stats’ by extending her own double-double streak. (A ‘double double’ refers to a player reaching double figures in two statistical categories in a single game)
Angel Reese made just 3-of-13 shots and struggled with foul trouble in the second half
Meanwhile, others called out the Liberty players for their stifling quadruple team in the game’s final seconds.
‘Damn they wouldn’t let her have it,’ one fan wrote on X.
Conversely, some congratulated the Liberty for clamping down on Reese and preventing her from reaching the record.
‘I would like to formally announce my fandom of the New York Liberty,’ another fan wrote on X.
The loss for Chicago was the team’s second to New York in the last three days.
With New York (20-4) minus star Breanna Stewart due to a sore hamstring, Ionescu shouldered the load as the visitors took control with a 14-0 run to close the first half.
The Sky (9-14) didn’t fold, but Ionescu, who scored 21 in Thursday’s 91-76 home over Chicago, hit four of the Liberty’s 11 made 3-pointers and scored eight of her team’s final 11 points.
Meanwhile, Reese made just 3-of-13 shots. She struggled with foul trouble in the second half and was even whistled for a technical after tossing the ball away from the officials.
Despite her offensive struggles, Reese still had a game-high 16 rebounds.
Marina Mabrey had 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Chicago, which fell to 4-8 at home.
New York’s Nyara Sabally and Leonie Fiebich double team Chicago rookie Angel Reese
New York trailed by seven after one quarter, and 34-29 with roughly five minutes to go in the first half. That’s when the tide turned, and the Liberty took over by scoring the final 14 points of the second to take a nine-point lead at the break.
Ivana Dojkic (12 points) scored five consecutive points to begin that run. Leonie Fiebich (13 points) also posted five straight points later during the surge for the Liberty, who outscored the Sky 29-13 in the second quarter.
The Liberty scored nine of the first 15 points to open the third quarter, with Ionescu’s bucket followed by her long 3 for a 52-40 advantage. Ionescu had seven points in the third, but after she made three straight free throws to give New York a 61-48 lead, Mabrey hit back-to-back 3s that made it a seven-point affair entering the fourth.
Mabrey scored 11 first-quarter points while going 4-of-7 from the field and hitting a pair of 3s as Chicago used a 9-2 close to lead 21-14 entering the second period.
Jonquel Jones added 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three blocks for New York.
