BATON ROUGE, La. — Angel Reese made her much-anticipated return to Baton Rouge a memorable one, posting a double-double to lead the Chicago Sky to a dominant 89-62 exhibition win over Brazil’s national team Friday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Reese, back in the building where she became a college basketball sensation, tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds to open the WNBA preseason on a high note. The former LSU star, now entering her second season with the Sky, was all smiles as she stepped onto the floor where she led the Tigers to the 2023 national championship and earned back-to-back All-America honors.
“It just feels good to be home,” said Reese, who was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team last season and set the league’s single-season rebounding record. “Seeing the fans, even the security staff—it reminds me of how much heart goes into this program.”
The exhibition also marked the debut of new Sky head coach Tyler Marsh and the unveiling of Chicago’s revamped starting five. The lineup included offseason additions Ariel Atkins (via trade), veterans Courtney Vandersloot and Kia Nurse, and Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the front court.
The Sky’s offense looked polished from the jump, with Vandersloot—back in a Sky uniform after a two-year stint with the New York Liberty—setting the tone. The four-time All-WNBA guard orchestrated the offense with veteran poise.
A lively crowd of 6,373 turned out for the homecoming celebration, many donning Chicago Sky gear and Reese’s No. 5 jersey. Hailey Van Lith, Reese’s LSU teammate from last season, also drew a loud ovation when she checked in late in the third quarter. The rookie guard finished with seven points, five assists, and three rebounds.
Before tip-off, both Reese and Van Lith were honored with a tribute video highlighting their LSU careers. LSU head coach Kim Mulkey presented each with a bouquet and a warm hug, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Kia Nurse chipped in 11 points for Chicago, while Cardoso contributed six points and eight boards in a match up against her native Brazil.
For Brazil, Manu Alves led the team with nine points as they struggled to find a rhythm against the Sky’s balanced attack.
Brazil continues its U.S. tour on Sunday with a high-profile exhibition match up against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in Iowa City.
