Chicago Sky

As the Chicago Sky attempt to secure a playoff spot in 2024 partially due to Angel Reese's impressive rookie season, the team will also be looking forward to a new practice facility.

On Thursday, the Sky announced plans to build a new $38 million practice facility that is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 2025. The new facilities will be located next to Wintrust Sports Complex and cover approximately 40,000 square feet (h/t ESPN's Alexa Philippou).

The new performance center will include two regulation WNBA courts, private facilities for the players, player lounges, a new film room, an advanced training room with strength and conditioning equipment, a private chef's kitchen, and more. It will also feature 24-hour, year-round access.

After the Sky previously practiced at a public facility roughly 30 miles away from Wintrust Arena, they'll be just 11 miles away from the site of their home games once the new facility is completed (per Philippou).

Players will be able to live closer to downtown Chicago and have a shorter commute compared to the old performance center.

"We could not be more excited to announce a practice facility that will raise the bar on athletic performance, set the standard for player amenities, and support our players with exceptional resources built exclusively for them," Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson said as part of the announcement. "Living in downtown Chicago will also give Sky players the opportunity to experience all of the benefits of our world class city."

In the meantime, Chicago will look to earn a playoff spot as Reese continues her inaugural season. The former LSU standout averaged 13.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game during her first 24 starts, earning an All-Star nod.

History for Angel Reese in her WNBA All-Star debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/TaOFu3gS5D

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 21, 2024

Per the announcement, construction on the new facilities will begin in the fall.

Unrivaled, which is a new professional women's basketball league that was cofounded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and tips off in January 2025, added some star power Wednesday.

The league announced the addition of Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese ahead of its inaugural season, and she seems fired up to join:

305 BARBIEEEEE👑 SEE YALL IN THE YAMSSSSSSS🤭 https://t.co/tFmlwdlsZN

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 24, 2024

She is the 10th athlete to join Unrivaled:

• Breanna Stewart
• Napheesa Collier
  
• Chelsea Gray
• Arike Ogunbowale
  
• Jewell Loyd
• Kelsey Plum
• Rhyne Howard
• Kahleah Copper
• Jackie Young
• Angel Reese

A press release in May explained that Unrivaled will start with 30 players across six teams. Games will be 3 vs. 3 on a compressed full court.

What's more, the league will feature the highest average salary in women's professional sports league history.

"For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income," Stewart said. "With Unrivaled, we're revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay."

The league counts headline athletes such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash among its investors.

Reese will surely bring in more viewers as one of the headliners of a loaded WNBA rookie class that also features No. 1 pick and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Reese became a household name during her college career when she helped lead LSU to a national title with a win over Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA tournament.

She was also the SEC Player of the Year and a three-time All-American before entering the WNBA.

Chicago jumped at the chance to select her with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft, and she has already turned heads and made history in her rookie season.

Reese was named to the All-Star Game and is averaging a double-double of 13.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. She set the WNBA record with double-doubles in 15 consecutive games.

The Sky are also in playoff positioning in eighth place in the WNBA standings.

Fortunately for WNBA fans who will want to continue watching Reese play during the WNBA's offseason, she will take the court in the Unrivaled league and continue to work on her game ahead of her second season.

After teaming up with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark at WNBA All-Star Weekend, Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese is hopeful she can play alongside side Clark again at the Olympics in a few years.

"It's been great," Reese said during the broadcast of Saturday's All-Star Game, per Forbes' Adam Zagoria. "Hopefully in four years we can be in the Olympics together."

Reese reiterated after the All-Star Game, which Team WNBA won 117-109 against Team USA, that she's eyeing a future Olympic berth.

"I just wanted to leave my mark. One day I wanna be able to be a [USA Basketball] member."

—Angel Reese after dropping a double-double in the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Uoi2FFBxNg

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 21, 2024

While neither Clark nor Reese was named to Team USA for the 2024 Olympics, both were named All-Stars and are taking on the United States Women's National Team on Saturday.

Both Reese and Clark are off to outstanding starts in their WNBA careers. Clark is averaging 17.1 points, 8.2 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game and recently set a league record for assists in a single game with 19. Reese is putting up 13.5 points and 12 rebounds per game. Reese also recently set a record of her own for the most consecutive double-doubles.

As Clark and Reese continue to battle it out for WNBA Rookie of the Year, their respective teams are fighting for a spot in the playoffs.

The Fever are currently in seventh place in the league standings at 11-15, but the Sky are just a game behind them at 10-14. After the All-Star break, the race for the final spot in the postseason should be interesting.

For now, Clark and Reese will continue to enjoy their time playing on the same team.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese joked about teaming up with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game following their clashes in college.

"I'm excited for it, everybody can wear their get-along shirts for one day at least," Reese said, per Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star. "I know a lot of people are gonna come and watch us … there's an awful lot of talent within both rosters."

The 22-year-old will play with Clark on Team WNBA in the All-Star festivities, facing off against Team USA.

The history between the two players has been well-documented, with Clark and Iowa facing off against Reese and LSU in the 2023 national championship game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-rtcmttGqQ

LSU won, although Iowa earned some revenge by defeating the Tigers during the Elite Eight in 2024.

The two have continued their rivalry into the WNBA, with Indiana winning two of its three matchups with Chicago during the 2024 season. Clark earned Rookie of the Month honors in May, while Reese took home the award for the month of June.

However, there doesn't appear to be any animosity between the two players off the court. Clark and Reese competed in a shooting contest from half court on Friday during All-Star practice, with the former LSU standout emerging victorious.

Angel Reese beat Caitlin Clark in a half court shooting contest 🎯

(via @LeBatardShow)pic.twitter.com/A5NODco0hu

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 19, 2024

Reese has gotten off to a strong start to her WNBA career, averaging 13.5 points and a team-high 11.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field.

She recorded a double-double in 15 consecutive games, setting a new league record before the streak was snapped on Saturday. Her dominance on the glass has helped the Sky bounce back from a 4-9 start to the season, winning six of their past 11 games.

Reese and Clark will share the court as teammates during the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night, with tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Angel Reese kicked off the 2024 WNBA All-Star weekend by outshooting the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark from half court as the two rookies faced off in an informal post-practice competition.

Clark missed her shot, while the Chicago Sky rookie sunk hers to the cheers of her teammates.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese face off in a half-court shooting contest, with Angel emerging as the winner 🔥

(🎥 @ArashMarkazi )

pic.twitter.com/xGjqiXg3GS

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 19, 2024

Clark and Reese will both represent Team WNBA as the league's stars take on the USA Basketball Women's National Team during Saturday's All-Star game in Phoenix.

The two are the only rookies on the roster, and the first pair of rookies to make their All-Star debut in the same season since 2014.

The event marks the first time Clark and Reese will team up after years of competing against one another.

"I'm pretty excited. I think it's cool... I think it's just really good for the W," Clark said Thursday about teaming up with Reese.

Clark added: "Obviously, she's having an incredible year, so it's gonna be really fun. She's certainly probably going to lead the game in rebounds. I expect that out of her, that's just what she does."

Clark and Reese faced off in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments, including during LSU's national championship victory over Iowa in 2023. The Fever have since claimed a 2-1 record in three matchups with the Sky during the rookies' first WNBA season.

It sounds like Clark and Reese are ready to put that rivalry behind them as they prepare to join forces and take on the U.S. Olympic team.

Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese's incredible WNBA record double-double streak has ended at 15 games after she posted eight points and 16 rebounds in an 81-67 home loss to the New York Liberty on Saturday afternoon.

The Liberty seemed to make sure Reese fell one basket short of her double-double, defending her with four players in the final seconds:

Four New York Liberty players surrounded Angel Reese in the final possession of the game.

She was two points away from her 16th-straight double-double. pic.twitter.com/wHEy10egG3

— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2024

Reese dominated the boards but struggled shooting, making 3-of-13 field goals. Still, fans understandably lauded her remarkable accomplishment.

Shoutout to Angel Reese on a HISTORIC streak!

She’s on pace to break (or has already broken) multiple rebounding records as a rookie.

Don’t be surprised if you see her break the double-double record again, and then again. pic.twitter.com/qzzJYEYqfN

— Polymarket Hoops (@StatMamba) July 13, 2024

Angel Reese in today’s game:

8 PTS
16 REB
1 AST
1 STL

End of a legendary double-double run. pic.twitter.com/LtSyJo7nkj

— AC (@arcentral_) July 13, 2024

https://twitter.com/AboveAverage_Ed/status/1812199327286374557

Watch how hard they about to celebrate the ending of Angel Reese double double streak, but they claim that it didn’t matter.#skytown

— Kristy-Ann (@kylebuckets48) July 13, 2024

I’m proud of Angel Reese. She went from doubted as the #7 pick to breaking records, being an all star and likely all rookie team. It’s only up from here so while the streak is over she will still create more history this season. ROTY was never on my radar so I’m good on that.

— Latesia (@Latesia27) July 13, 2024

https://twitter.com/olafimihanoshin/status/1812206064219172950

When Angel Reese breaks the double double streak again and leads Chicago into the playoffs>>>>>>>

— Jazzy (@jazzy__simone) July 13, 2024

Just FYI Angel Reese streak was a league record. She’ll have the rest of her career to extend that streak.

— blank (@BlankStorms) July 13, 2024

The fact that Angel Reese is leading the league in rebounds with a screw in her foot from surgery. She’s really a DAWG!

— Mamba Out 🐍 (@Dvo_Ron24) July 13, 2024

Angel Reese leads the W is rebounds…as a rookie. If there was a rookie leading the league in a major statistical category in any other major American sport they would be a clear cut rookie of the year candidate.

— Domo Julio (@DapperDomo) July 13, 2024

During the streak, Reese averaged 14.8 points on 42.2 percent shooting, 13.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Her scoring high was 27 points in an 88-84 road win over the Seattle Storm. Her rebounding high was 19 boards in an 85-77 road win over the Atlanta Dream.

Now that streak is over, though. What's of most importance is the Sky's fight for the playoffs. Currently, Chicago is 9-14, good enough for eighth in the WNBA standings and the last spot in the current playoff picture.

There's still 17 regular-season games left for Chicago, though, beginning Tuesday against the Las Vegas Aces. That will signal the end of the de-facto first half of the season with the Olympic break now upon us.

Thursday brought some good news and bad news for the Chicago Sky.

On the one hand, star rookie Angel Reese extended her WNBA record of consecutive double-doubles to 15 with 10 points and 10 rebounds. On the other hand, the team blew a double-digit lead in a 91-76 loss to the New York Liberty in Thursday's showdown at Barclays Center.

New York improved the best record in the WNBA to 19-4, while Chicago fell to 9-13 and was unable to replicate its previous performance as the only team to beat the Liberty in Barclays Center this season.

While Reese was just 5-of-17 from the field and generally struggled against the New York frontcourt, the double-double mark drew the attention of social media:

Angel Reese extends her double-double streak 🔥

15-straight games 🙌 pic.twitter.com/elEVKj06v5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 12, 2024

History continues to be made for Angel Reese ‼️

She extends her double-double streak to 15 consecutive games #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/wJvSymk4WX

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 12, 2024

ANGEL REESE…

CAN’T STOP. WON’T STOP. 🌟 https://t.co/Rxt4pVi6bk

— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2024

The Barclays crowd just ERUPTED as Angel Reese snagged her 10th rebound to secure her 15th consecutive double-double, extending her WNBA record run

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) July 12, 2024

https://twitter.com/Tsylvester16/status/1811564350483607940

15 STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DOUBLES FOR ANGEL REESE🔥👑 pic.twitter.com/T71TtMNf55

— CHGO Sports (@CHGO_Sports) July 12, 2024

The only player with 15 consecutive double doubles is a ROOKIE 🥶🥶🥶🥶

Put some respect on her name..

Angel Reese,the Chi barbie 🤍 pic.twitter.com/ZuZkZXGZVs

— J A D E (@Jade4rever) July 12, 2024

Angel Reese is special. Fifteen consecutive double double

— Ayo (@Ayotizzzle) July 12, 2024

Angel Reese got standing ovation getting sub out wnba fans really appreciating the double double 🥹 salute to Sabrina Stewie & Jonquel all cook today 🫡

— KWON🌹 (@Aceboykwon) July 12, 2024

Angel Reese grabs another double double. Crazy run she’s on.

— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) July 12, 2024

ANGEL REESE SOMEHOW EXTENDS HER WNBA DOUBLE-DOUBLE RECORD TO 15 CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A DOUBLE-DOUBLE LMFAOOOOOOO 🔥

— John 🇨🇻 (@YaBoyyyJohn) July 12, 2024

The Liberty are arguably the best team in the league with no shortage of star power in Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu, among others, and Reese's ongoing record was another primary storyline. However, they all took a backseat in the early going as Chennedy Carter and Marina Mabrey set the tone for Chicago.

A quick start for both helped the Sky build a double-digit lead in the first half, and they seemed well on their way to shocking New York on the road once again.

Then the Liberty flipped the switch.

The home team finished the half on a 14-3 run to trim the deficit to two and built a lead of its own during the third quarter with Ionescu shaking off some early struggles, Leonie Fiebich hitting threes, and the Stewart and Jones combination continuing to prove unstoppable.

Chicago also got a scare when Reese limped to the bench, but she returned and helped cut New York's lead to just one heading into a fourth quarter where she needed two points and five rebounds to extend the double-double record.

She reached double digits in the points department with an inside shot, which was fitting because the Sky continued to play from behind throughout the second half because they couldn't make up the difference in the outside shooting.

While Mabrey was the only visiting player to make a single three-pointer, the combination of Ionescu, Fiebich and Kayla Thornton all draining shots from the outside while Stewart and Jones overwhelmed Chicago's frontcourt was a testament to how much talent is on the Liberty's roster.

The only positive for the Sky came in the final minutes when Reese reached her double-double totals, and she will have the opportunity to extend the record to 16 in a rematch against New York on Saturday.

Candace Parker had high praise for Angel Reese after the Chicago Sky rookie broke her record last week.

On Sunday, Reese recorded her 13th consecutive double-double, breaking Parker's record for consecutive double-doubles.

"I think it's unbelievable what she's been able to accomplish," Parker said at the ESPYs on Thursday (3:35 mark). "It's been so cool to see her relish in people telling her she can't and she won't be successful. To see her grow throughout this season has been remarkable. She's a rebounding machine and we saw that in college. And I know she took the fuel of people saying is it going to translate, and she's done just that in this early round."

Parker set her record across the 2009 and 2010 seasons and it held for more than a decade, but Reese's tremendous start to her career led to her being the new record holder.

Reese had 17 points and 14 boards on Sunday to give her the record-setting 13th double-double, and she logged another double-double on Wednesday to make it 14 in a row. In total, she has 15 double-doubles on the year.

The former LSU star is averaging 14 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this year and is making a strong case to be the WNBA's Rookie of the Year, with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark likely being the only player standing in her way.

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are set to join forces for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, and the Chicago Sky rookie would like to see it happen again at the Summer Olympics in four years' time.

"We're gonna be playing together for a while, so this is not gonna be the first time," Reese said Wednesday on NBA Today. "I know we'll be All-Stars again. Hopefully 2028, we'll be Olympians together, too."

Clark missed the cut for the 2024 Summer Olympics despite her illustrious college career at Iowa. She's still only in her first year in the WNBA, and the Hawkeyes' Final Four run meant she was unable to attend the United States' training camp in April.

Through 22 games, the Indiana Fever guard is averaging 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 39.3 percent from the field. Assuming her production continues to improve as she gains more experience, she should firmly be in the Team USA fold for the 2028 Summer Games.

The same could easily be said for Reese with how quickly she has hit the ground running. The 6'3" forward is averaging 14.1 points and 11.9 rebounds and already owns a WNBA for the most consecutive games with a double-double (14 and counting).

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will be the first time the United States has hosted the quadrennial extravaganza since 1996.

The Atlanta Games were effectively the genesis of the WNBA as Team USA helped to show there was an audience for women's basketball. The league will be in a far different place in four years, much less from where it was when it launched in 1997. But imagine what kind of attention Clark and Reese would help draw if they were to win gold on home soil.

Fresh off of being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese continued her historic double-double streak while helping lead her team to a win.

Reese recorded her 14th straight double-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks to help lead the Sky to a 78-69 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday.

It initially looked like Reese's streak would be snapped, but she reached the double-digit scoring mark with a pair of free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Despite shooting 4-of-9 from the field, Reese didn't let her struggles affect the rest of her game. Along with fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso, she did a solid job protecting the rim. Cardoso added 10 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and Chennedy Carter led the way with 19 points as Chicago improved to 9-12 this season.

Fans on social media were impressed with Reese's performance in Wednesday's win:

WHAT A SWEAT FOR ANGEL REESE DOUBLE-DOUBLE BETTORS (-270) ✅

She hits two FTs with 6 secs left to extend the streak to 14 games 😅

(via @WNBA)pic.twitter.com/LOwyFjIpsM

— br_betting (@br_betting) July 10, 2024

ANGEL REESE CONTINUES HER HISTORIC DOUBLE DOUBLE STREAK WITH 14 STRAIGHT IN A WIN AGAINST THE DREAM pic.twitter.com/oBIM46tKDE

— ju. (@juloccd) July 10, 2024

The streak is still alive and well 🔥

Angel Reese ices the game and gets her 14th consecutive double-double with 11 PTS, 13 REBS

📲 League Pass pic.twitter.com/LKs19JYxgv

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 10, 2024

There goes the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, Angel Reese 👏

Angel got the campers goin' crazy already

📲 League Pass pic.twitter.com/uC6aW5HBtl

— WNBA (@WNBA) July 10, 2024

Hands down ROTY, go argue with your momma if you disagree https://t.co/JajE3cc0UA

— itss.tiffanyj (@tiffloves5) July 10, 2024

This angel Reese streak is crazy

— KV£🥷🏽 (@Kavee100) July 10, 2024

Angel Reese all-world rebounder !!

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) July 10, 2024

Reese continues to establish herself as a frontrunner in the race for Rookie of the Year. Along with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, she has quickly emerged as a force in the WNBA who can be a superstar for years to come.

Reese and the Sky will quickly regroup as they travel to face the New York Liberty in a marquee matchup on Thursday night.