Yes… Chicago fell to 8-26 and is 1-11 post-All-Star break, but the Sky welcomed back their star player, Angel Reese, who returned to the lineup after missing seven consecutive games with a back issue. She picked back up where she left off, finishing with a team-high 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists on 9-13 shooting from the floor, in only 25 minutes of action due to being on a minute restriction.
Only a win could have made Reese’s return to the lineup sweeter for Sky fans, but the Storm were also desperate for a win and didn’t give Chicago the cherry on top.
Angel Reese’s impact was felt immediately
Chicago badly missed its leading scorer and league-leading rebounder, Angel Reese, who entered play averaging 14.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. With Reese missing seven consecutive games and nine of the past 10, the Sky were 1-9 (including losing seven games by double digits). The difference in energy and intensity from Chicago with Reese on the floor was obvious immediately. Despite the Sky trailing by as much as 19, Reese’s competitiveness and nonstop motor energized her teammates, as the Sky crawled back within seven with just under two and a half minutes left in the game before ultimately losing to the Storm (94-88).
There are no morale victories, but here’s a crazy fact: This is only the third single-digit margin game for the Sky post-All-Star break, which shows you the kind of slump the team has been in post-All-Star break. For those who question Reese’s impact on the game, she is once again proving that she is Chicago’s heart and soul and its motor. While a lot of eyes are on Reese, and her flaws are constantly scrutinized, there’s no doubt that she plays a big part in making the Sky a competitive and respectable team.
Tyler Marsh reiterated this point as he gave his input on how Reese looked in her return. "I thought she played great,” Marsh said, ”I think that she gave us everything that she had. You could see the energy that it gave us, and she helped will us back into it."
Angel Reese is happy to be back out on the court
After Chicago’s loss to Seattle, the first things that Reese would be asked were how she felt and what her thoughts were on her return.
“All I wanted to do tonight was bring the energy…this is a feeling we haven’t felt before that we felt good that we came out and played really well. That was the goal for me,” Reese said.
With 10 games left, the Sky are out of playoff contention, but Reese's presence can help regain competitiveness, uplift the team morale, and end the season with something to build on for the upcoming season.