The Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese had an emotional night on Tuesday as her team defeated the Atlanta Dream by a score of 85-77. Afterwards, Reese shared a touching, emotional moment with her coach Teresa Weatherspoon as she reflected on being named as a WNBA All-Star.
Reese is currently being considered for Rookie of the Year and has had a stellar first season so far.
‘She’s Meant Everything To Me’
“She’s meant everything to me, I mean,” Reese said of Witherspoon before pausing to collect herself.
“Love you, kiddo,” Witherspoon said in response as she put her arm around Reese.
“I’ve had amazing coaches in my career. But this one is special,” the WNBA rookie continued. Reese went on to say that Witherspoon “understands with me off the court. She understands me on the court. She believes in me. Shots that I take that she wants me to take, she believes in me that, I mean I believe in myself. So being able to come to the league and feel at home, feeling being able to be here.”
“I remember sitting on the computer talking to her when I was going to the process or the draft process and I was like, ‘please God let me go to Chicago,'” she added. “Like, ‘please, please I don’t care where I drop to. Let me go to Chicago.’ Because when you know that feeling, when you know somebody loves you and believes in you, not just as a basketball player but as a human being, it’s special.”
“And just coming from her, like I’m away from home, my mom believes that I’m okay away from home,” Reese concluded. “So it’s family here and I just feel I’m blessed to have coach.”
It’s a vulnerable moment for Reese, who is known more for her bad girl persona and tough style of play.
Check out the full emotional moment in the video below.
Reese’s Stellar Rookie Season
During Tuesday night’s game, Reese extended her double-double record to 11 straight games. She put up 12 points with a staggering count of 19 rebounds. She also shot 5-of-12 from the field.
Reese is currently averaging 13.2 points per game with an incredible 11.8 rebounds.
Before Tuesday’s game, Witherspoon had told Reese and her teammates to “lock in.”
“Guys, let’s just lock in and be intentional about our work today. Okay?” Witherspoon told the team, according to Star Local. “Be intentional. Be intentional with what we do, and how we have to grow and be better to come and get this win.
“Let’s go and snatch this win tonight,” she added.
Related: Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky Mock Caitlin Clark Fans After They Finally Beat The Fever
WNBA All-Star Roster
Reese made the WNBA all-star list along with the Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and ten other players. Here’s the full roster:
- DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Sun (6th All-Star selection)
- Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (2nd All-Star selection)
- Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (1st All-Star selection)
- Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream (2nd All-Star selection)
- Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks (3rd All-Star selection)
- Brionna Jones, Connecticut Sun (3rd All-Star selection)
- Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty (5th All-Star selection)
- Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx (4th All-Star selection)
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever (2nd All-Star selection)
- Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings (4th All-Star selection)
- Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm (9th All-Star selection)
- Angel Reese, Chicago Sky (1st All-Star selection)
Did your favorite WNBA player make the All-Star list?
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