The Chicago Sky may have come up short on the scoreboard Tuesday night at Barclays Center, falling 85-66 to the undefeated New York Liberty, but Angel Reese found a way to make the night memorable for more than just her stat line.
In the wake of the defeat, the standout forward not only continued to dominate on the court but also had a viral moment with none other than tennis phenom Coco Gauff.
Reese delivered a game-high performance with 17 points and 11 rebounds, marking her 30th career double-double, making her the fastest player in WNBA history to reach that mark.
Her consistency and poise, even in challenging matchups, continues to affirm her rising status in the league.
While the Sky couldn’t keep pace with the Liberty‘s firepower, Reese‘s individual effort once again proved she belongs among the league’s elite. But it wasn’t just her on-court production that had fans buzzing.
A courtside crossover of queens in New York
Among the celebrities watching from courtside was newly crowned French Open champion Coco Gauff, just days removed from defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her second Grand Slam title.
At only 21, Gauff is already being heralded as the “Queen of Clay,” becoming the youngest American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2002.
“A queen recognizes a queen,” a user wrote on X. Gauff sat alongside Vanessa Bryant and her daughters, adding even more star power to the evening.
Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant stopped by for a greeting, and Gauff later visited the Liberty locker room after the game, sharing smiles and selfies with players.
Yet the standout crossover moment came after the final buzzer, when Reese shared a heartfelt Instagram Story video of herself meeting Gauff. “The QUEEN,” Reese wrote in the caption, tagging the tennis star directly.
Despite the loss, Reese looked thrilled, smiling wide in her short clip with Gauff. While sports fans continue to celebrate Gauff‘s growing legacy on the tennis court, Reese’s admiration reflected the mutual respect shared among rising women’s sports icons.
“Congrats to Coco. She’s amazing,” Reese said after the game. “As a young black woman, I’m super inspired by everything she does, and to see her come show up to a WNBA game obviously shows how much she supports women, she supports women in sports.
“I just hope she continues to just be her. She’s her through everything. I know it’s tough days, and as a young woman with so much fame, and so much going on the outside, she continues to just thrive through, and I’m super inspired.”
The Chicago Sky will have a chance to rebound from the loss when they face the Atlanta Dream on Friday.
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