Reese Good on Her Own

By Jim Gazzolo

Former LSU star and rookie sensation Angel Reese has been everything we expected during her first two months in the WNBA.

Reese is second in the league in rebounding and has been a part of the league’s surge in interest. That, though, doesn’t seem to be enough for Reese.

After helping LSU to a national title two years ago and getting the Tigers back to the Elite Eight last season, Reese has remained a lightning rod for controversy in her new league.

It was the same while she was in college.

The Bayou Barbie as she has been known is more like Drama Barbie, always finding a way to get her name out there for both good and bad. It wasn’t that long ago she was suspended for a few games while at LSU.

So the drama that has followed her now is nothing new, or unexpected.

Reese seems happy to be labeled the anti-Caitlin Clark, leading the charge against her fellow rookie who is getting most of the attention from the league’s new fans.

Clark, who herself seems to be followed by drama, leads all rookies in scoring. She is clearly the fan favorite and the reason for the league’s new-found interest by an adoring fan base.

Just about everybody has their opinion on why Clark is loved by the public but at least some of it has to be jealousy. That is nothing new to athletics.

But Reese seems to be one of the most vocal about it. She fails to realize if she plays her cards right, then she could benefit as much as anybody by Clark’s popularity.

The other day Reese blamed the media for all her negative press, which is also a common move by athletes. The fact is, she seems to like the role of villain until it hits too close to home.

The real truth is Reese doesn’t need any of this. She should let her play speak for itself.

The Chicago Sky forward is playing at a very high level, probably second-best of all the rookies. Her 11.1 rebounds a game average is just off the league lead and nobody plays more physically than her. 

She can more than stand on her own as her scoring is up as she gets used to the game. Reese is the only player outside of Clark to have a chance at winning the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year honor.

Angel Reese may not like being the second-best newcomer in the WNBA but she should take advantage of it. Being good is one thing, being good and being a fan favorite is another.

Clark isn’t her enemy, she is her partner and if played right, they both can help make the league bigger than anyone ever dreamed possible. 

If played wrong, it can be sunk just as easily.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles