Angel Reese shown immediate Chicago Sky faith with starting lineup nod in WNBA debut

The Chicago Sky have placed Angel Reese in the starting five for her first-ever WNBA game, providing an immediate display of trust in their first-round pick as they begin 2024 against the Dallas Wings.

Reese is expected to take on more responsibilities than almost anyone else in her incoming rookie class, particularly with teammate Kamilla Cardoso sidelined for the foreseeable future because of a shoulder problem.

Reese is starting alongside Dana Evans, Marina Mabrey, Diamond DeShields and Elizabeth Williams.

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Along with Cardoso, forward Isabelle Harrison has also been ruled out because of injury.

Reese played in both of Chicago's preseason games - a loss to the Minnesota Lynx and an emphatic 48-point victory over the New York Liberty. She was on the court for 24 and 19 minutes, respectively, and averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds.

For the Sky, this season will focus on consistent growth over record-based benchmarks. They know the roster is a work in progress and want to end the campaign feeling better than they do now.

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"Getting better, that’s the biggest thing for us is that every day we get better," Sky head coach told Swish Appeal . "Of course at the end, I think every team will tell you that you want to be standing tall, you want to be the last one standing.

"Of course we want to be there, but we got to be about the process to be able to stand last. We recognize that is our approach every day of getting better to be able to stand last."

Chicago posted an 18-22 record last season and its worst defensive rating since 2018, leading to a coaching staff change and roster reconstruction.

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Weatherspoon made the switch from an NBA assistant coaching position with the New Orleans Pelicans to take over the helm with the Sky.

"The things that we are about to do as a team, a business and in the community will be rooted in excitement, excellence and hard work," the coach said at the time of her hiring as she outlined her vision. "I am thankful to the entire Chicago organization for going through this process and selecting me."

Taking Reese in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft aligned with the mission of bringing renewed excitement to Chicago, as the LSU product carries one of the most devoted personal followings among any basketball player in the country.

She also seems poised to bring day one defensive traits to the WNBA floor after blocking more than a shot per game in the NCAA.