Angel Reese set one other rebounding report in Thursday night time’s Sky loss to the Mercury, however she as soon as once more made clear postgame that setting data will not be a precedence. Reese has now grabbed 120 offensive rebounds this season, surpassing Sylvia Fowles for essentially the most offensive rebounds in a single-season in franchise historical past.
However, when requested in regards to the report in her postgame press convention, Reese deflected a query, stating: “I don’t need to hear about no report.”
She completed the sport with 11 factors (4-14 FG) and 15 rebounds — 8 of these had been offensive, which marked essentially the most offensive rebounds in a sport by any WNBA participant this season. The 15-rebound efficiency additionally moved her to eighth on the all-time rookie rebounds record.
Sky head coach Theresa Witherspoon echoed Reese’s indifference postgame.
“She’s all about successful, and he or she most likely didn’t even know that occurred till somebody mentioned one thing. I didn’t both,” Witherspoon mentioned. “However, that’s what she’s about. She’s about simply successful video games, not about breaking data. It’s nice for her — it’s nice that she’s doing these issues, breaking data, doing great issues. However, on the finish of the day, all we would like is to go get wins.”
Over the ultimate 15 video games of the WNBA season, Angel Reese is about to interrupt a number of extra rebounding data. She’s presently on tempo to seize extra boards than any participant in WNBA historical past — rookie or in any other case. That report can also be held by Sylvia Fowles, who grabbed 404 boards within the 2018 season. Reese presently has 301 rebounds, and if she continues rebounding on the similar clip she has up to now this season, she’ll end the 12 months with 481 rebounds.
However, extra necessary to her is the playoff race. The Sky presently sit at eighth total within the WNBA standings, in place for the final playoff spot. However, the Dream, Sparks, Mystics, and Wings all sit only a few video games behind, and will battle for that closing place.
On Thursday, the Mercury defeated the Sky 85-65, and Chicago had no reply for Kahleah Copper (29 factors, 12-19 FG) nor Brittney Griner (23 factors, 10-12 FG).
Griner had considered one of her greatest performances of the season, additionally posting 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.
“She’s an amazing participant,” Reese mentioned. “Clearly, she was actually environment friendly tonight. Simply with the ability to observe the sport plan was one thing that we didn’t do tonight. We get one other shot at them on Saturday, so I’m wanting ahead to it.”
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Picture by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs
The Sky had been with out guard Chennedy Carter, the group’s main scorer this season. She’s out with sickness, and her absence was obvious — with the Sky’s beginning backcourt of Rachel Banham and Lindsay Allen combining for simply 12 factors.
“Chennedy is without doubt one of the greatest guards on this league,” Reese mentioned. “We perceive that. We all know her worth to this group. With the ability to not have her tonight, clearly we struggled.”
Subsequent, the Sky will face the Sparks, who additionally resumed WNBA play with a blowout loss. Angel Reese will proceed working towards breaking rebounding data, however her focus will stay on protecting Chicago within the playoff race.
“We received to give attention to the following sport, which is LA,” Reese mentioned. “They’re additionally one other good group. So, simply with the ability to go into their place and go into their home, and simply with the ability to watch, movie and have a look at the issues that we have to work on. We have now to observe our sport plan, and that’s what we simply must do — look ourselves within the mirror and determine issues out. We’ll be again and we’ll be wonderful.”
