Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese hugs her former coach, LSU’s Kim Mulkey, as she presents Reese flowers before a WNBA exhibition basketball game against Brazil in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) drives to the basket against Brazil forward Manu Alves in the second half a WNBA exhibition basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese hugs her former coach, LSU’s Kim Mulkey, as she presents Reese flowers before a WNBA exhibition basketball game against Brazil in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey presents flowers to her former player, Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith, before a WNBA exhibition basketball game against Brazil in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith (2) moves the ball down court in the second half a WNBA exhibition basketball game against Brazil in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Brazil forward Manu Alves defends against Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) in the second half a WNBA exhibition basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese hugs her former coach, LSU’s Kim Mulkey, as she presents Reese flowers before a WNBA exhibition basketball game against Brazil in Baton Rouge, La., Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) 鈥 Former LSU star Angel Reese鈥檚 homecoming in the Chicago Sky鈥檚 WNBA exhibition opener was a smashing success.
Reese had 15 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Sky to a rousing 89-62 victory over the Brazilian national team on Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Reese was smiling the moment she entered the arena where her college career took off after transferring from Maryland. She earned All-America honors twice and led LSU to the national title in 2023.
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鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to be back to see all the fans, even down to the security guards, because I know how much was put into this program,鈥 said Reese, who’s entering her second season with the Sky after earning WNBA All-Rookie honors last year, when she set a league single season rebounding record.
A crowd of 6,373, many of whom wore Sky T-shirts and Reese No. 5 jerseys, cheered her and rookie teammate Hailey Van Lith鈥檚 every move. Van Lith was an LSU teammate of Reese in 2023-24 before playing her final collegiate season at TCU.
with 5:43 left in the third quarter and finished with seven points, five assists and three rebounds.
Reese and Van Lith were honored before the game with video highlights of their time at LSU. and hugs.
Kia Nurse added 11 points for the Sky. Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso, playing against her Brazilian countrywomen, had six points and eight rebounds.
Manu Alves led Brazil with nine points.
Takeaways
Friday鈥檚 game was the first for new Sky coach Tyler Marsh. The Sky also debuted a revamped starting lineup, with veteran free agent signees Nurse and Courtney Vandersloot and trade acquisition Ariel Atkins joining Reese and Cardoso.
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The result was a smooth offense guided by Vandersloot, a four-time all-league guard in her first 12 WNBA seasons with the Sky. She spent the last two years with the New York Liberty.
Brazil’s next stop in its U.S. tour will be an exhibition against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday at the University of Iowa’s arena in Iowa City, where Clark starred in college.
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