Angel Reese, Poised to Make an Immediate Impact in the WNBA

One thing is certain about Angel Reese: she is not shy on or off the court. Reese, selected 7th by the Chicago Sky in this year's WNBA draft, is clearly preparing to impact the WNBA from her first game.

The question is, what kind of immediate impact will she have on the Sky out of the gate?

“Real, real workouts before practice,” Reese told WGN. “That was an adjustment for me. Being able to see that I’m working up a real, real sweat before practice. So I’m getting in here at 8, 9 o’clock and I’m already ready to go. 

“I used to workout at LSU before practice,” Reese added. “But it wasn’t like this. So, just being able to adjust to that has been good for me.”

In a recent interview with Heavy, Chicago GM Jeff Pagliocca, talked about Reeses' potential impact.

“The combination of Angel’s skillset and her presence make her one of the most competitive players in her class, and we expect that to complement our existing core,” Pagliocca said.

“Angel is a relentless competitor who pursues the ball unlike anyone else. I have no doubt her and Kamilla’s rebounding skills could play a huge part in our game this season.”

“No matter how talented you are, there’s always going to be transitional period between college ball and a professional league,” Pagliocca added. “She’s a high-profile rookie, but we don’t want to put any unfair pressure on her. Training camp is where starters are decided, and we’re excited to continue growing her game.”

THE UNDERRATED OPINION
Playing in the WNBA is a dogfight night in and night out, and I suspect Reese will find her way into the fight pretty quickly. Expect her to impact the Sky out of the gate immediately. Her reputation for tenacity and versatility on the court makes her an excellent fit for the WNBA, and I'm willing to bet the Sky will have no regrets picking Reese.

Now, her critics are watching closely to see if her collegiate success, marked by exceptional rebounding and scoring, will translate professionally. Reese, who averaged 18.6 points and grabbed over 13 rebounds a game, will certainly find scoring in the WNBA significantly more difficult than on the collegiate level.

Like so many young players entering the WNBA this season, Reese also brings a strong blue-collar mentality to her game. Of course, off the court, she goes from a strong on-the-court work ethic to being stylish and in charge of how she wants to be viewed away from basketball.