The 2025 WNBA Draft didn’t just deliver the stars—it delivered the stories. While Paige Bueckers stole headlines as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings and French standout Dominique Malonga went second to the Seattle Storm, the Chicago Sky quietly made a move that’s now turning heads—with ripple effects already forming around Angel Reese.

At No. 16 overall, the Sky selected Notre Dame forward Maddy Westbeld, a 6-foot-3 baller out of Kettering, Ohio, who just wrapped up her fifth season with the Fighting Irish. After sitting out the first 13 games due to foot surgery, she made a comeback to average 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game—modest numbers on the surface, but her presence, experience, and basketball IQ are well respected around the league.

Then came the moment that lit up the timeline.

Shortly after getting drafted, Westbeld made a bold statement about her new teammate, Angel Reese, and the competition she’s walking into in the WNBA.

“I’m excited to be able to compete with the best.”

That “best” she’s referring to? None other than Angel Reese — the face of Chicago’s rebuild and one of the most talked-about players in the league. And Westbeld didn’t hold back. She followed up by saying: “I’m so excited to be able to compete with Angel every day. That’s really the motor that she has, the activity level that she brings every day, her competitiveness. I’m just excited to be able to compete with the best.”

Now here’s the thing: Reese isn’t just a fiery competitor—she’s walking into her second year in the WNBA with something to prove.

Her rookie season was already impressive. Reese led the entire league in rebounds, made the All-Rookie Team, and earned a spot in the All-Star Game. She gave Chicago energy, visibility, quickly becoming one of the most recognizable young stars in the W. But there are still gaps in her game—and she knows it. However, wonder what still makes her better than most despite those shortcomings? Well, the fact that Reese did not duck the challenge—she ran straight into it.

One of the biggest questions about Reese as she transitioned from college to the pros was her outside shooting. She didn’t take many jumpers at LSU, mostly because that just wasn’t her role in Kim Mulkey’s offense. Instead, she dominated the paint, grabbed boards (including many of her own misses), and thrived off physical play.

Had she returned for her COVID year, there’s a strong argument she would’ve expanded her game beyond the paint. But she chose a different route.

“Coming back would’ve been amazing for me, but I wanted more for myself,” Reese said after she was drafted. “I wanted to start over. I felt like I had been on a high since the national championship and I wanna hit rock bottom.” The Chi-Town Barbie added,” I wanna be a rookie again, I wanna be knocked down by vets, and I wanna be able to get up and grow and be a sponge.”

Even without a reliable jumper yet, she brings plenty to the floor. Reese is an elite rebounder, a high-energy forward with a motor that doesn’t quit, and a sneaky-good facilitator. She averaged just 2.3 assists per game in college, but don’t let that number fool you—her passing vision and basketball IQ are legit. She knows where the ball needs to go and how to get it there, which is huge for a forward in today’s game.

Now that she’s surrounded by vets like Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, and Kia Nurse, there’s no doubt Reese will continue to elevate her game. She’s not just a star in the making—she’s a sponge, soaking in everything and pushing herself to grow.

So when Maddy Westbeld says she’s excited to compete with Angel Reese? She means it. And she’s not alone. The new Chicago Sky squad is built on competitive energy, and Westbeld’s mindset only adds fuel to the fire. Between the vets, the rising stars, and rookies eager to prove themselves, this team just became one of the most interesting to watch in 2025.

Reese may have been the headline last year. But this year? The competition within might be the storyline.

Reese Faces the Fight of Her Career with Sky’s New Roster

“We getting some rookies today ahhh im sooo excited lmaooo,” wrote Reese before the draft. And now, fast forward to the 2025 WNBA Draft, and the Sky made a few moves that have people wondering: is Angel still the centerpiece of this team?

The front office didn’t just draft help—they drafted heat.

With the No. 10 overall pick, Chicago grabbed Ajsa Sivka, a 6-foot-4 power forward out of Slovenia who can flat-out score. She plays the same position as Reese, but she brings a more polished offensive game. That’s not shade—it’s just the scouting report. Reese dominates with hustle, physicality, and rebounding. Sivka stretches the floor and puts the ball in the hoop. And while she’s expected to come off the bench (for now), don’t be surprised if that pecking order gets tested sooner than later.

Then, in the second round, the Sky selected Maddy Westbeld, another power forward—this one from Notre Dame. Westbeld’s known for her rebounding skills and smart court presence. Though she doesn’t carry the offensive firepower of Sivka, she’ll certainly bring something valuable to the table as the Sky looks to build more depth.

And just when you thought the Sky were done, they hit again at No. 11, taking Hailey Van Lith, Reese’s former LSU teammate turned TCU breakout star. Van Lith reinvented her game after transferring, becoming a better finisher and a smarter playmaker. She even shined in 3×3 at the Olympics, showing off her pick-and-roll chops. ESPN’s Charlie Creme put it bluntly: “That extra year in college was a brilliant move for Van Lith… She reestablished herself as a star.”

Now Van Lith could be running pick-and-rolls with Reese again—or with Kamilla Cardoso, or even Sivka, depending on how things shake out. And let’s not forget, Van Lith gets to learn from one of the best floor generals in league history: Courtney Vandersloot.

So what does all this mean for Angel Reese?

It means she’s not walking into the training camp with the same security she had a year ago. The Sky has loaded up and she will definitely be challenged time and again.