Talking about Angel Reese’s draft day, what comes to your mind first? Probably that gorgeous backless hooded dress, right? The one that broke the internet and had us all glued to our screens. But obviously, there was so much more going on behind that glittering entrance. We saw the moment LSU’s Bayou Barbie became Chi-Town Barbie. How she got picked 7th overall. How she became one of only eight first-round picks in LSU history. But you know, there was one story from that big day we didn’t know—until now.

Turns out, long before her name was even called, Angel got a call from one of the greatest to ever do it, Lisa Leslie. Reese recently shared the moment, saying, “Actually funny story like she [Lisa] called me before I was entering the draft like probably a year ago and was like ‘No matter what nobody say I think you are ready for the WNBA.’” 

And just like that, Reese said, “All right, bet.” I mean, when Lisa Leslie tells you you’re ready, you don’t question it. You listen. You move. You block the noise. The rookie carried those words with her. Through her rookie year (which was cut short). Through her time with Unrivaled. And while Lisa had her back, she wasn’t there to hand out compliments and call it a day. She kept it real. Because Reese might rule the boards like it’s nothing, but finishing around the rim is where she needed some work. Her rookie year numbers weren’t exactly pretty. 

She had the worst layup conversion rate in the league. She was hitting just 39.1% from the field, while the league average was 43.8%. Not ideal. That’s when Lisa Leslie stepped in. And this time, she wasn’t calling to hype her up, she was calling it out.

On Angel’s podcast, Unapologetically Angel, Leslie didn’t beat around the bush: “The biggest advice I have for you is going to be how you shoot your layups. We’re going to fix that. That’s fixable for you.” And she meant it. Lisa’s been in the gym with her, working on every little thing—footwork, body control, shot selection. She wasn’t just throwing advice from the sidelines. She was in it with her. The Sky star was real about all of it on UNINTERRUPTED. 

“She was an inspiration to me like just being able to work with her and see things,” Reese said. “A lot of people think it’s hard to take constructive criticism… like she’s trying to damage Angel’s game or she’s trying to tell her what to do. Like, I want people to sit there and be real with me… so when I get to where I want to get to, I’m like oh I bet Lisa said it. Like Lisa told me and she helped me. So kudos to her and I really appreciate her.”

And honestly, it shows. Like really shows. She’s reading the floor better. She’s finishing stronger. Through 14 Unrivaled games, she put up 13.3 points with a season-high 23. But what really pops? Her efficiency. In her 10 games alone, she bumped her FG% up to a strong 47.3%. And of course, she’s still a monster on the glass, leading the league with 12.1 rebounds per game.

Want a highlight? In February 21 game, Reese went off—22 points, 21 rebounds—for her Rose BC squad against the previously undefeated Lunar Owls BC. Even during halftime, Leslie couldn’t hold it in. “I am like a proud mom sitting here watching,” she said. Fans were also impressed as the praises for the W legend filled the social media.

And the work hasn’t stopped. Even after winning Unrivaled’s first-ever title, Reese is back in the gym, putting in hours. Last season, she made only 42% of her layups (136 of 321). And she knows that’s not good enough. She even declared it “the worst you’ll ever see me.”

Now, Season 2 is coming and we would like to hope the new and improved Angel Reese is coming with it. And speaking of what’s coming, Rivals Week is about to set the WNBA on fire. 

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese headline W rivals week 

The WNBA is dialing things up this summer with its own version of Rivals Week. Mark your calendars: Aug. 9-17 is officially rivalry territory. The highlight is no surprises here — Clark’s Indiana Fever taking on Reese’s Chicago Sky. These two have been going at it since their college days. Remember when LSU beat Iowa and Reese hit that gesture? And then Clark got her revenge the next year? 

They met four times last season as pros. Clark’s squad walked away with a 3-1 lead. But now that Reese is back with another offseason under her belt, don’t expect her to just roll over. This one’s gonna be loud, gritty, and oh-so-watchable. And it’s all kicking off in prime time on CBS, no less. But wait, that’s not all. The W’s got a whole slate of showdowns lined up.

We’ve got not one, but two Finals rematches between the reigning champs, New York Liberty, and the Minnesota Lynx. And Brittney Griner will face off against her old team, the Phoenix Mercury, as part of Atlanta’s lineup. 

The league really said, you want narratives? We got you. There’s even a new Cali rivalry brewing — the expansion Golden State Valkyries are hosting the LA Sparks. And if that wasn’t enough, Clark and the Fever are also set to face off against the Dallas Wings, who might just draft Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 pick. 

According to Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, this isn’t just about cool matchups. It’s about driving that playoff push. “The timing of that week is critical,” she said. And she’s got a point, August is when things get real. Rivalries have always been the heart of sports. The NBA’s had its Rivals Week for a while, and now the W’s got their own. So keep your popcorn ready. Rivals Week’s coming. And it’s going to be personal.