Angel Reese took the floor Saturday at the Target Center for the team’s final preseason matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, but instead of dominating the paint, Reese leaned into distributing the ball and making plays for others.
Reese started the game alongside Kia Nurse, Kamilla Cardoso, Ariel Atkins, and Rachel Banham.
The starting unit looked cohesive in stretches, but ultimately fell short in a 92-87 defeat. While Cardoso and Atkins carried more of the scoring load, Reese contributed in less traditional ways, recording five assists in just over 25 minutes of action.
Reese finished the game with 10 points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field, 0-of-1 from three, and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. She added three rebounds, five assists, one steal, and ended with a -1 in the plus/minus column.
Reese as a facilitator
In the first half, Reese was unusually quiet. She attempted just three shots before halftime and failed to convert any of them. Her only points came from the free-throw line, going 3-of-4.
At the break, the Sky trailed 48-42, and Reese had only managed three points and four assists with no rebounds-a surprising stat for a player whose college legacy was built on her work on the boards.
Despite the lack of scoring, it was her passing that drew attention. Reese delivered a handful of well-timed dishes, showing an improved awareness and willingness to facilitate from the high post and perimeter-roles she was less frequently tasked with during her time at LSU.
That vision remained consistent in the second half. While she finally found the bottom of the net on a field goal after the break, the offensive rhythm never fully arrived.
Reese scored seven points in the second half, hitting two of her five shot attempts and going 3-of-4 at the line. She also pulled down all three of her rebounds in the final quarter, but the game slipped away from the Sky late.
For head coach Tyler Marsh, however, the night offered a glimpse into how Reese could expand her impact beyond traditional power forward responsibilities.
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