Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese returned to the Wintrust Arena to haunt her former team, the Chicago Sky, with the rebounding they are so desperately missing.

In her first game against the Sky since getting traded in the offseason, Reese exploded with 17 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 35 minutes as the Dream secured an 82-75 victory on the road. The Sky had 22 rebounds in total.

Reese was asked about notching her 57th double-double performance in her career in the postgame on-court interview, but the 23-year-old would much rather opt for team successes instead of individuality.

“It doesn't matter unless I get a win. I was able to get a lot of double-doubles in my first two years, but it feels good when you get a win. So I'm really happy to be able to dream, I'm really excited. We continue to march on for this Commissioner's Cup,” the two-time WNBA rebounding champion said.

The Dream is currently 8-3 for the season, sitting atop the Eastern Conference as Reese has been quite an addition to Karl Smesko's squad.

The two-time WNBA All-Star entered the Sky game with 2026 season averages of 13.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 41.7 percent from the field.

While her shooting from outside the arc needs a lot of work, with averages of 9.1 percent shooting from the deep in her first ten games, Reese is effectively a machine for the Dream when it comes to inside scoring, paint presence, and, of course, rebounding.

In fact, her playstyle is so strong that she would even make NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal proud.

Angel Reese's Numbers Rival Shaquille O'Neal's Early Career

With the 57th double-double of her career, Reese is now in the company of Blake Griffin, tying him for second-most in the first 75 games in both the WNBA and NBA, alongside the likes of Tina Charles and Tim Duncan in the list.

Reese's feat is second to none other than Shaquille O'Neal's 75, which he recorded in his rookie year in 1992-93 with the Orlando Magic. Shaq entered the NBA as a force of nature and was easily the best player for a stretch of about five years in the early 2000s.

Reese and O'Neal share a good relationship, with the Los Angeles Lakers legend defending her at all times. Both players also went to LSU, so there is a connection through that as well.

The 54-year-old was named president of Reebok Basketball on Oct. 12, 2023. His first signing was Reese, who has since released her signature sneaker line, the Reebok AR 1, with the brand.

With performances like these, Reese might go on to break some early records set by Shaq, as she continues to enjoy her campaign with the Atlanta Dream.

So, do you think Angel Reese will receive the WNBA Rebounding Leader Award for the third time in a row this year? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy