Angel Reese Is Thriving as Chicago’s New Point Forward — And She’s Just Getting Started
Angel Reese is not just growing into her second year as a WNBA player; she is redefining what it means to be a modern forward in today’s game, pushing past expectations and stepping into a role that challenges her physically, mentally, and emotionally — and she’s absolutely thriving in it.
Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh, in his first year at the helm, saw something special in Reese that went beyond her ability to dominate the glass — he saw untapped versatility, vision, and leadership, the kind of traits you build an entire system around if you’re willing to take the risk.
Instead of boxing her into the identity of a traditional power forward, Marsh has asked Reese to evolve into more of a point forward — a rare, hybrid role that demands a high basketball IQ, patience, unselfishness, court awareness, and the confidence to orchestrate an offense while still doing the dirty work underneath.
The transformation wasn’t instant, and the growing pains were real — there were poor shooting nights, shaky assist-to-turnover ratios, and the added pressure of adapting midseason after veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a devastating ACL injury that thrust even more responsibility onto Reese’s shoulders.
Yet despite the turbulence, Angel Reese refused to retreat into her comfort zone — she worked relentlessly on her shot, her reads, her decisions, and her mental focus, putting in countless hours both on and off the court, often training with legends like Lisa Leslie and elite skills coaches like Alex Bazzell.
Her progress has not just been linear; it’s been explosive — highlighted by her first career triple-double on June 15 against Connecticut, where she recorded 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists — a stat line that loudly announced her arrival as more than a rebounder or hustle player, but a floor general in the making.
Entering the All-Star break, Reese led the entire WNBA in rebounds per game with 12.6 — a staggering margin over the rest of the league — and she maintained her 14 points per game scoring average, while doubling her assist output from last season, proving she is becoming a more complete and dangerous player.
Coach Marsh has been vocal about wanting the Sky to play with “space and pace,” and Angel Reese has become the centerpiece of that vision — she crashes the boards, initiates transition plays, makes smart passes from the high post, and even extends her range to keep defenders guessing.
Reese has already attempted 19 three-pointers this season, making four — not eye-popping numbers, but significant growth compared to last season, when she was not even considered a threat from outside — evidence that she is embracing discomfort to expand her game in every direction.
What makes Reese’s development even more compelling is how she’s managed to stay grounded through the noise, criticism, and pressure — she’s playing smarter, reading defenses better, and learning when to attack as a scorer versus when to facilitate, showing maturity that belies her youth.
In a recent post-game interview after scoring 19 points against the Lynx — with 11 of those coming in the first quarter — Reese reflected on her progress with humility and confidence, saying she trusts her preparation and is finally feeling comfortable taking shots she used to second-guess.
“When I have teammates that really put a lot of confidence in me to take shots that sometimes I wasn’t comfortable taking before, it makes my job easier,” she said, a testament to the bond she’s building with the Sky roster and the leadership voice she’s developing in the locker room.
Even Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, a respected veteran in women’s basketball, was effusive in her praise, calling Reese “big, strong” with a “high IQ” and “a passion and willingness to improve,” acknowledging that those intangible qualities are what allow young stars to break through ceilings.
The numbers support the eye test — in her last nine games heading into the break, Reese averaged a double-double while shooting over 50% from the field, including multiple games with four or more assists, an indicator that her decision-making is catching up with her physical gifts.
While Chicago still struggles with roster inconsistencies, including the ongoing Hailey Van Lith experiment and Kamilla Cardoso’s absence for international duty, Angel Reese has been the team’s rock — the one player who delivers night in and night out, regardless of circumstances or matchup.
At 7-15, the Sky are far from playoff locks, but it’s impossible to ignore how Reese’s expanded role has energized not just the team’s on-court strategy but also its long-term outlook — because you don’t build winning cultures overnight, you build them around players like her.
Coach Marsh credited her ability to read situations — knowing when she’s the primary scorer versus when she can create for others — and highlighted her aggression in finding opportunities whether it’s in the low post, high post, or perimeter, as a key factor in the Sky’s recent competitive stretch.
What makes this evolution even more exciting is that Reese is only scratching the surface — her ceiling isn’t defined by stats or awards, but by how willing she is to push through mistakes, evolve her game, and lead with both fire and poise, especially when it’s not easy.
In just her second WNBA season, Reese has already earned her second All-Star nod, and it’s not just a fan favorite selection — it’s recognition of how vital she has become to her team, her league, and the future of positionless, high-IQ, high-effort basketball.
What began as a bet by a rookie head coach — asking a sophomore forward to step into the most cerebral role on the court — has now become one of the most promising experiments in the league, and Reese’s determination is turning that experiment into a foundation.
The question is no longer whether Angel Reese can handle a bigger role — it’s how far she can take it, and whether the league is ready for a player who can dominate inside, direct traffic outside, and do it all with the flair, confidence, and hunger of someone who’s just getting started.