Only one woman can lay claim to the record for most consecutive double-doubles in the WNBA’s 28-year history.
With all due respect, it’s not Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Sylvia Fowles or Breanna Stewart.
That woman is Angel Reese, the impressive Chicago Sky rookie who tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds for a record 13th consecutive double-double in a losing effort to the Seattle Storm.
Your ALL-TIME @wnba leader in consecutive double-doubles
All Hail Queen Barbie 👑#skytown | @GarrettPopcorn pic.twitter.com/kVwFk7LA82
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) July 8, 2024
With that effort, Reese surpassed the previous record holder, Naperville’s own Candance Parker, who notched 12 consecutive double-doubles across the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
“It’s absolutely amazing to see,” first-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon told ESPN of Reese’s accomplishment. “She might be surprising herself, but she’s not surprising me. It’s something that she can do because it’s something that she puts the work in to be able to do.”
Reese has 14 total double-doubles thus far, tying her for the fifth-most all-time for a rookie. Veteran WNBA center Tina Charles holds the record for most overall double-doubles in a rookie season with 22.
i loveeee me a double double but i’ve never been a rebound😉 pic.twitter.com/2vLQ09hfqE
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 8, 2024
Her latest accomplishment has bolstered her case for Rookie of the Year consideration.
Before the start of the WNBA season, most observers had Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, as the consensus rookie of the year. Many scouting reports questioned whether Reese’s scoring and rebounding would translate from college to the pros, given that she would be playing against bigger, stronger players in the WNBA.
Before the Chicago Sky selected Reese with the No. 7 pick, one Sporting News scouting report stated that she “will often be at a size disadvantage with some of her WNBA opponents. In many ways, she is a center in a forward’s body.”
Other reports, such as this one from ESPN, pointed to Reese’s need to improve her ability to make outside shots.
“I wish she had more range on her shot,” a general manager said. “I think that’s something that she needs to add.”
Whatever the case, since averaging 20.8 points and 14.4 rebounds per game in two seasons at LSU, one thing has seemed to translate quite well for the Sky rookie — her ability to be a double-double machine.