Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese made history on Sunday, breaking the WNBA record for the most rebounds in a single season during a 79–74 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Reese secured her sixth rebound of the game, bringing her total to 405 for the season and surpassing Sylvia Fowles’ previous record of 404, set in 2018 while Fowles was playing for the Lynx, told The New York Times.
Reese, just 22 years old, delivered an impressive performance with 19 rebounds and 17 points, marking her 24th double-double of the season. With this achievement, she pushed her rebound total to 418, with eight games still remaining in the Sky’s regular season. Reese’s dominance on the boards has been a highlight of her rookie campaign, and she’s currently leading the WNBA with an average of 13.1 rebounds per game.
Fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso also shone for Chicago, scoring a career-high 22 points and adding nine rebounds, while Michaela Onyenwere contributed 15 points. Despite their efforts, the Sky couldn’t overcome the Lynx, who were led by Courtney Williams’ 22 points, followed by Kayla McBride’s 17 and Napheesa Collier’s 15. The victory improved Minnesota’s record to 23–9, keeping them in third place in the WNBA standings.
As Reese continues her phenomenal season, she’s on pace to end the year with 517 rebounds, a staggering 113 more than Fowles’ previous record, according to SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell. This projection underscores Reese’s potential to put the season rebounds mark far out of reach for future players.
Reese’s rebounding prowess has drawn comparisons to NBA legend Dennis Rodman, who led the NBA in rebounds for seven consecutive seasons. In a fitting tribute to the “Worm,” Reese wore Rodman’s Detroit Pistons jersey before Friday’s game against the Indiana Fever. Rodman, known for his relentless rebounding, averaged 13.1 boards per game during his career, a figure Reese is matching in her rookie season.
Since the Olympic break, Reese has taken her game to another level, averaging 16.1 rebounds over seven games. During this stretch, she became the first WNBA player to grab 20 rebounds in three consecutive games and set a new record for double-doubles in a season, previously held by Tina Charles.
The Sky, currently holding an 11–20 record, will face a tough challenge on Tuesday when they take on the Las Vegas Aces, who boast a 19–12 record. This matchup will pit Reese against A’ja Wilson, the frontrunner for WNBA MVP, who ranks second in the league with an average of 11.8 rebounds per game. With Reese’s record-breaking season still unfolding, all eyes will be on this exciting showdown.