ANGEL REESE SNATCHED LA’S SOUL, REBOUNDED THROUGH THE RAFTERS, AND MADE CANDACE PROUD

WNBA legend Candace Parker got her jersey retired. Angel Reese treated it like a soft launch and gave Los Angeles a funeral instead.

The Sky’s second-year superstar led Chicago to a 92–85 road win that felt like a declaration of war. Reese poured in a season-high 24 points, ripped down 16 rebounds (because why not four straight games with 15+ boards?), and passed out 7 assists like it was the Thanksgiving table.

Oh, and she did all that while guarding everybody from Kelsey Plum to the DJ in the 300s section.
The only thing more violent than her fourth quarter was LA’s first-half shooting. They went 31% from the field before halftime — and somehow looked worse than that sounds.

Reese played point guard growing up and it shows — she’s calling sets, switching 1–5, and walking into the lane like it’s her living room.

And just in case you thought she might chill? Two blocks, only one turnover, and a +3 in 38 minutes.

She’s a basketball cheat code.

 

“I USED TO BE A PG & JUST BE ABLE TO BE SUPER VERSATILE…JOKIC, GIANNIS, CANDACE, BEING ABLE TO BE VERSATILE AND LIKE SATOU SAID ‘BE A UNICORN’… BEING 6’3 AND BRING UP THE BALL UP IS A NEW NORM… IT MAKES MY JOB EASY BUT I’M REALLY HAPPY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.”

With the game hanging in the balance Reese said “nah” and then proceeded to drop 11 of her 24 in the fourth, including a soul-stealing and-one that put Chicago up 85–74 with 2:30 left.

 

“I STRUGGLED IN THE FIRST 8, 9 GAMES… OBVIOUSLY IT HAPPENS AND I WAS VERY HARD ON MYSELF… TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO KEPT IT REAL WITH ME… I’M BEING A POINT GUARD, A FOUR, A FIVE… AND GUARDING ALL FIVE POSITIONS TOO. I TRUST MY WORK… I HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH LISA, I TALK TO SPOON EVERY SINGLE DAY.”

This ain’t just growth. This is an evolution arc straight out of anime.

Meanwhile, Ariel Atkins looked like the best two-way player that still falls under the radar. Atkins shined as she scored 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 2 steals, and +8 in 37 minutes. Locked in.

Rachel Banham tossed in 13 points off the bench with 4 dimes and hit 3 triples like it was a shootaround. And Kia Nurse might’ve filed for squatter’s rights on the corner — 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, +13, and 3-of-3 from deep in just 24 minutes.

Chicago shot 48.5% from the field, 42% from three, and 88% from the line.

They looked like a real team for the first time in weeks — and maybe because Angel Reese is now playing six positions and coaching on the bench.

“WE JUST GOTTA BE TOUGHER”

The Sparks spent the postgame spinning like it was a campaign press conference.

Emma Cannon (15 pts, 3-of-3 from deep) was honest:

 

“WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO FINISH GAMES… IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’RE WORKING ON… WE HAVE TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.”

Dearica Hamby once again shined in front of Parker who she calls a dear friend. Hamby did her part with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and a near triple-double in pain tolerance:

 

“OBVIOUSLY WE’D LOVE TO HAVE A WIN BUT IF I CAN CONSISTENTLY PLAY LIKE THAT I THINK WE’LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.”

Azurá Stevens dropped 17 points, blocked 3 shots, and still somehow finished a team-worst –19.

And then came Lynne Roberts — who subbed in accountability like a sixth player:

 

“WE JUST GOTTA BE TOUGHER. HANDLE ADVERSITY, HANDLE PERFORMANCE ISSUES, BAD CALLS… THIS LEAGUE THE TOUGHER TEAM WINS AND THAT DOESN’T ONLY MEAN PHYSICALLY” said Roberts. “IT IS INSANELY PHYSICAL. THE PLAYERS ARE SO EXPLOSIVE, STRONG AND AGGRESSIVE. IT’S A HARD GAME TO OFFICIATE. WE HAVE TO DECIDE ARE WE GOING TO LET IT BE PHYSICAL OR NOT AND PLAYERS WILL ADAPT.”

Turns out “the formula” is guarding Angel Reese for four quarters. So yeah — they’re right, it doesn’t exist.

 

“WHEN YOU’RE HIT WITH ADVERSITY AND YOU LOSE, IT’S A CHOICE ON HOW YOU APPROACH IT… THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA.”

CANDACE PARKER, FOREVER THAT WOMAN

At halftime, LA raised Candace Parker’s jersey into the rafters. Two MVPs, three titles, and more cultural impact than half the league combined.

Lynne Roberts nailed it:

 

“IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HER… THE BIGGER VICTORY TODAY IS THE CELEBRATION OF HER… WE ALL WANT TO WIN FOR HER. I DON’T WANT OUR PLAY TO TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING AND BASKETBALL PLAYER CANDACE IS AND WHAT SHE MEANS TO OUR SPORT.”

Angel made sure to honor her the only way she knows how: by wrecking LA like it was personal.

Respect.