Next season is going to be a surprising one in the WNBA. No, we ain’t talking about the crazy free agency shuffles—though that’s definitely keeping us on our toes—but rather Angel Reese’s potential fiery comeback. Yes, the Chicago Sky rookie isn’t just securing the bag in Unrivaled; she’s leveling up her game in a way that even her rivals can’t ignore.

Unrivaled League continued with the Phantom and Rose facing off, and Reese’s squad showed no mercy. The Rose moved to 7-4 with a solid 71-59 win over Natasha Cloud and the Phantom, marking their fifth consecutive victory. Reese was at the center of it all, dropping a dominant 23 points, snagging 14 rebounds, and dishing out five assists. 

Meanwhile, Cloud finished with just seven points, as Satou Sabally and Sabrina Ionescu carried the scoring load for the Phantom. But Chi-Town Barbie’s performance was so amazing that even the 2019 WNBA Champion had to show love. “Y’all better give her her flowers as much as you shit on her, too,” she said postgame, emphasizing how much Reese has improved.

In response, Reese kept it simple with three words on Twitter, writing, “appreciate you gang @T_Cloud4.”  No bad blood, just mutual respect between hoopers who go hard every game.

So far in Unrivaled, Reese has been a problem for opponents, averaging 13.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Defense? Dominant. Rebounding? Unmatched. Offense? It’s getting there, and fast. She’s silencing critics who’ve questioned her scoring ability and proving that she’s in the lab making strides. 

Just look at her recent performances: 16 points and 15 rebounds on 50% shooting on February 18. Then, recently, a historic 22-point, 21-rebound game that made her the first player in Unrivaled history to record a 20-20 stat line. She created the history and this time in way she would actually like to remember unlike the other one. 

“You know, gotta make history,” the 22-year-old said after that game. “Being able to see my growth—I put in the work and a lot of people don’t see what I put in. It’s great to see the results out there. But obviously, I’m not done yet.”

The secret weapon behind Angel Reese’s growth? Lisa Leslie

It can’t be denied that the key reason Reese, who averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds in her W debut season, is elevating her game is the WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. When Reese signed up for Unrivaled, one of her main goals was to sharpen her skills, especially offense. But she got an unexpected bonus: mentorship from a Hall of Famer.

Leslie, who’s part of Unrivaled broadcast team, has been keeping a close eye on Reese, and that relationship has blossomed into a mentor-student dynamic. “The biggest advice I have for you is going to be how you shoot your lay-ups. Period. Like, we’re going to fix that,” Leslie told Reese on her Unapologetically Angel podcast.

And trust, Lisa wasn’t just saying that for the cameras. She’s been hands-on in helping Reese refine her footwork, paint patience, and finishing ability. And it’s already showing up in her game. The Sky forward is taking her time in the paint, reading defenses better, and finishing higher off the glass—no more unnecessary tough misses.

During halftime of Reese’s monster game against Lunar Owls, Leslie couldn’t contain her excitement. “I am like a proud mom sitting here watching,” she said. “And here’s the reason why: it’s just the beginning. Angel Reese, one of the goals that we had is for her to have a double-double without them being all her misses.”

She broke down exactly what’s changed, noting that she [Reese] was getting the ball higher off the glass, just as they had worked on the previous day. She emphasized that Reese’s defense was solid, her ability to bring the ball up had improved, and her passing skills had gotten better. However, Leslie stressed that it was Reese’s defense that stood out the most to her.

So, Angel Reese fans must thank Lisa Leslie for pouring her wealth of knowledge into the young star. It’s already paying off, and we can’t wait to see this momentum carry over to the WNBA season. If Reese keeps this up, she could silence the doubters in her Year 2!