Angel Reese Makes WNBA History with Unprecedented Rebounding Streak
In the annals of Women’s National Basketball Association history, certain performances transcend mere statistics to become defining moments that reshape our understanding of excellence, and Angel Reese’s remarkable achievement of becoming the first WNBA player to record 15 or more rebounds in four consecutive games represents exactly this kind of paradigm-shifting accomplishment. The Chicago Sky forward’s extraordinary feat, culminated in Sunday’s commanding 92-85 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena, demonstrates not only her individual dominance on the boards but also her ability to elevate her team’s performance when it matters most.
The “WNBA Countdown” crew react to Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier being named the WNBA All-Star team captains and discuss which players could end up on either team. (2:04)
Reese’s historic fourth consecutive game with 15-plus rebounds saw her collect 16 boards while simultaneously exploding for a season-high 24 points, showcasing the kind of two-way dominance that separates elite players from merely good ones in professional basketball. Her previous three games in this unprecedented streak featured rebounding totals of 19, 17, and 18 respectively, numbers that individually would be impressive but collectively represent a level of sustained interior presence that the WNBA has never witnessed before in its 27-year history.
The significance of this achievement becomes even more pronounced when considering the context in which it occurred, as Reese’s performance came during a nationally televised game that featured the retirement of Candace Parker’s jersey, creating a symbolic passing of the torch moment between two generational talents who have redefined what it means to be a complete player in women’s professional basketball. The timing seemed almost scripted, as if the basketball gods themselves orchestrated this moment for Reese to announce her arrival as the league’s premier rebounding force on the same night that one of the game’s greatest icons was being honored.
What makes Reese’s rebounding prowess particularly remarkable is not just the raw numbers, but the manner in which she impacts winning, as evidenced by her crucial contributions in the fourth quarter against the Sparks where she scored 11 points and sealed the victory with a three-point play that gave Chicago an 85-74 lead with just 2½ minutes remaining on the clock. This clutch performance demonstrated that Reese’s rebounding dominance serves as the foundation for her overall basketball excellence, creating additional possessions for her team while simultaneously wearing down opponents who must expend extra energy battling for every rebound.
The historical context of Reese’s achievement cannot be overstated, as the WNBA has featured numerous Hall of Fame-caliber players throughout its existence, including rebounding legends like Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, and Sylvia Fowles, yet none of these established superstars managed to string together four consecutive games with 15 or more rebounds during their illustrious careers. This fact alone speaks to the exceptional nature of what Reese has accomplished, placing her in a category entirely her own and suggesting that she may be rewriting the blueprint for how dominant post players can impact games in the modern era.
Beyond the individual accolades and record-breaking performances, Reese’s rebounding streak has served as a catalyst for the Chicago Sky’s improved play, as the team has found its identity around her interior presence and ability to control the glass on both ends of the floor. Her seven assists against the Sparks further illustrated her evolving skill set and basketball IQ, as she consistently made the right reads out of double teams and found open teammates for high-percentage scoring opportunities.
The broader implications of Reese’s historic achievement extend far beyond the confines of individual statistics, as her dominance on the boards represents a shift in how teams must approach preparation and game planning when facing the Chicago Sky moving forward. Opposing coaches must now dedicate significant portions of their defensive schemes to limiting Reese’s rebounding opportunities, which inevitably creates advantages for her teammates and opens up the floor for Chicago’s offensive attack in ways that were previously unavailable to the franchise.
As Reese continues to redefine what’s possible in terms of sustained rebounding excellence, her historic four-game streak with 15-plus rebounds stands as a testament to her relentless work ethic, natural ability, and unwavering commitment to dominating the most fundamental aspect of basketball: controlling possession through superior rebounding technique and effort. The question now becomes not whether she can maintain this level of production, but rather how long she can continue to rewrite the WNBA record books while establishing herself as one of the most dominant forces the league has ever seen.