The 2020 women’s college basketball recruiting class is a remarkable group, a collection of talent that has redefined the sport. This powerhouse class includes names like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith. Together, they’ve amassed an impressive list of accomplishments: five national championships, three National Player of the Year honors, two No. 1 overall draft picks, and all six were first-round picks in the WNBA Draft. Their collective star power shone brightest during the 2023 National Championship matchup between Angel Reese’s LSU team and Caitlin Clark’s Iowa squad.
That game drew 9.9 million viewers, shattering records as the second-most-watched women’s NCAA game of all time-a milestone only eclipsed by the 2024 title game between Clark’s Iowa and Cardoso’s South Carolina, which drew a staggering 18.9 million viewers, a mark that will stand for a long time. These athletes didn’t just play; they propelled women’s basketball into a new era of visibility and excitement, and the best part is, they’re all reaching the pros and their careers are just beginning; barring injuries, we could see the best era of women’s basketball in the WNBA for at least a decade.
Brink and Hamby Salute Reese’s Spark
Angel Reese’s flair and tenacity have caught the eye of her peers around the league, and Los Angeles Sparks starsCameron Brink and Dearica Hamby recently sang her praises on Brink’s podcast, Straight to Cam. Hamby, a veteran with three All-Star nods, discussed the evolution of physicality in the WNBA over her decade-long career. While dissecting rebounding techniques, she paused to spotlight Reese: “I think Angel kind of lit a spark in me,” she confessed, a testament to Reese’s fierce style that clearly made an impression.
Brink chimed in, marveling at Reese’s dominance on the glass: “She’s a force, she pushes people out of the way…Angel should give a clinic on grabbing offensive boards.” Reese’s rookie stats back up the hype – despite an injury that cut her season short, she averaged a double-double of 13.6 points and a league-leading 13.1 rebounds per game, and even set a single-season record with 446 boards, a mark that briefly topped Sylvia Fowles’ 404 before A’ja Wilson passed her. Hamby, who averaged a career-best 9.2 rebounds last year, recognizes Reese’s unique drive as something worth emulating.
Chicago’s Rising Force with Reese, Cardoso, and Van Lith
From that stellar 2020 class, three players – Reese, Cardoso and Van Lith – are now on the Chicago Sky, promising a blend of muscle and flair under new head coach Tyler Marsh. Marsh, who helped the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back titles alongside A’ja Wilson, has called Reese and Cardoso the team’s “twin towers,” anchoring the Sky’s strategy with their imposing presence. Add in Van Lith’s sharpshooting and deft passing, and you’ve got a trio that could shake up the WNBA.
Brink and Hamby’s words reflect a league-wide respect for her hustle, a quality that’s as infectious as it is commanding. Reese’s defensive chops, evidenced by a 3×3 Defensive Player of the Year nod, and her knack for second-chance buckets make her a matchup headache. Sure, some point to her 38-39% field goal clip as a flaw, but as Hamby put it, “She’s still getting to the boards – nobody’s giving them to her.” With the Sky’s revamped roster, Reese is at the center of a team poised to climb the standings, proving that passion and tenacity can rival any stat sheet.
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