The return of Angel Reese, former LSU star, to Baton Rouge, in the WNBA exhibition game with the Chicago Sky, was a resounding success.
Reese shined with 15 points and 10 rebounds, contributing to the Sky’s resounding 89-62 victory over the Brazilian national team on Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Reese’s excitement was evident as she entered the arena where her college career took off after her time at Maryland, where she earned All-America honors twice and led LSU to the national title in 2023.
I’m happy to be back to see all the fans, even the security guards, because I know how much was invested in this program.
Angel Reese
Reese, who is in her second season with the Sky after being recognized as the WNBA Rookie of the Year last year, setting a single-season rebounding record, was greeted enthusiastically by a crowd of 6,373 people.
The fans, mostly wearing Sky jerseys and jerseys with Reese’s number 5, celebrated every move of the player and her rookie teammate, Hailey Van Lith.
Van Lith, who was Reese’s teammate at LSU in 2023-24 before playing her final college season at TCU, entered the game to a standing ovation and finished with seven points, five assists, and three rebounds.
Before the game, Reese and Van Lith were honored with highlight videos of their time at LSU. Tigers coach Kim Mulkey presented both players with bouquets of flowers and hugs.
Kia Nurse scored 11 points for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso, playing against her Brazilian compatriots, added six points and eight rebounds.
Manu Alves led Brazil with nine points.
Friday’s game marked the debut of the Sky’s new coach, Tyler Marsh. In addition, the team presented a renewed starting lineup, with veterans Nurse and Courtney Vandersloot, along with the acquisition via trade Ariel Atkins, joining Reese and Cardoso.
The result was a fluid offense directed by Vandersloot, a four-time All-League point guard in her first 12 seasons in the WNBA with the Sky, and who spent the last two years with the New York Liberty.
Brazil’s next commitment on their tour of the United States will be an exhibition game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday at the University of Iowa stadium in Iowa City, where Clark shined in college.
