Angel Reese Etches Her Name in WNBA History

Chicago Sky’s rookie sensation Angel Reese has made history by becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record 30 double-doubles, achieving this feat in just 42 games. The previous record was held by Tina Charles, who took 47 games to reach the same milestone. Reese’s performance in the recent game against the New York Liberty (17 points, 11 rebounds) sealed her place in the record books.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Reese’s achievement is even more impressive when you consider the company she’s now keeping:

1. Angel Reese – 42 games
2. Tina Charles – 47 games
3. Candace Parker – 56 games
4. Natalie Williams – 56 games
5. Lisa Leslie – 58 games

This isn’t just about raw numbers; it’s about consistency and dominance on both ends of the floor. For context, even legendary players like Parker and Leslie needed significantly more games to hit this mark.

What Makes Reese Special?

From my analyst’s chair, three factors stand out:

1. Relentless Rebounding: At 6’3”, Reese has an innate ability to position herself for rebounds, averaging over 10 per game this season.
2. Efficient Scoring: Shooting 50% from the field, she picks her spots wisely rather than forcing shots.
3. Motor That Never Stops: Watch any Sky game - Reese is constantly moving, setting screens, and creating second-chance opportunities.

Historical Context

The speed of this achievement puts Reese in rarefied air. When Tina Charles set the previous record in 2012, she was already an established star. Reese is doing this as a relative newcomer, showing a maturity beyond her years.

As someone who crunches basketball data daily, I’ll be watching closely to see how high she can push this new benchmark. Could we see 50 double-doubles in 70 games? The way she’s playing, nothing seems impossible.

Data source: ESPN/WNBA official statistics