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Even before Chicago Sky star Angel Reese turned pro, she was already a bona fide star. In her first season with LSU, the 6-foot-3 forward led the Lady Tigers to their first-ever national championship, bagging the Most Outstanding Player award in the process.
By her own admission, however, Reese wasn't at her happiest state while she was at Baton Rouge. Speaking on a recent episode of her "Unapologetically Angel" podcast, the 22-year-old revealed that she actually went through some tough times while at LSU.
"Getting up and transferring, it's scary," Reese said of her move from Maryland to LSU in 2022. "But I won a national championship from it. So I was like, 'I got something out of it.'
"It wasn't a perfect situation. Every day I didn't come to practice like, 'Yeah, I love being here.' But at the end of the day, I got what I wanted out of it. Now I look back and I love LSU."
Angel on her transfer experience pic.twitter.com/tyXIwIFXrT
— Unapologetically Angel (@angelreeseshow) November 22, 2024
Reese made her confession as she dropped some advice for her guest Mikey Williams, who himself made the move from Memphis to UCF during the offseason. According to Reese, the transition wasn't easy for her, but at this point in her life, she is able to look back at her college experience fondly.
Reese is currently with the Sky in the WNBA, where she is coming off a remarkable rookie campaign. In 34 games played before her season-ending wrist injury, the All-Star forward put up averages of 13.6 points, a league-best 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.5 minutes per contest.
More must-reads:
- Paige Bueckers, Wings show how bright their future is with upset win over Liberty
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- The 'NFL all-time touchdown receptions leaders' quiz
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Paige Bueckers, Wings show how bright their future is with upset win over Liberty
Paige Bueckers showed once again why the Dallas Wings' future is bright with a 92-82 win over the New York Liberty on Monday evening. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft tied with teammate Arike Ogunbowale for a game-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-12, including 2-of-4 on three-point attempts. Bueckers added six rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Wings' first win against the Liberty since July 19, 2023. The former UConn guard set the tone early, scoring the game's first basket on a jumper from the free throw line. In the second quarter, Bueckers showcased her phenomenal handles while guarded by forward Stephanie Talbot, getting enough separation before drilling another long jumper. Bueckers has 10 20-point games this season, which ranks 19th in WNBA history among rookies, despite missing seven games due to injury. The Wings (8-19) have the league's third-worst record, but Buecker's sensational debut season has made the tough parts worth it. The likely Rookie of the Year is averaging 18.2 points, 5.5 assists, four rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. With several of the team's players, including Ogunbowale, set to become unrestricted free agents following the season, it's anyone's guess what the Wings will look like next season. But with Bueckers under contract through 2027, Dallas might not toil near the bottom of the league for long. While the league hasn't revealed how lottery odds will be determined with five teams eligible to get the No. 1 pick in 2026, the Wings should have the best chance of getting next year's top pick, giving the franchise an opportunity to add another top prospect next to Bueckers. Monday's win over the Liberty (17-8) gave the league a glimpse of the type of future the Wings can have. Based on how quickly Bueckers has ingratiated herself, it might not be long before the future becomes the present.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Raiders rookie WR showing he could be steal of 2025 draft
Las Vegas Raiders WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. is opening eyes at training camp, including QB Geno Smith, who appears to be trusting the rookie. Maybe that is the reason why general manager John Spytek has not looked for outside help at the position. And just maybe he got a steal from the 2025 NFL Draft. That looked evident on the first day of pads in Henderson, Nevada, where Thornton badly beat fellow rookie cornerback Darien Porter for a long touchdown, as described by The Athletic's Tashan Reed. In a piece, Reed said Thornton has been the first-string "X" receiver since OTAs and "could make an immediate impact." Thornton shared what Smith told him during training camp: "He tells me every single day, 'if you've got a one-on-one matchup, I'm coming to you,'" Smith said, as shared by Reed. "It means a lot to me. Being a rookie and just getting here ... just knowing that he believes in me a lot. It gives me a lot of motivation to keep getting better." While the headlines are more on rookie RB Ashton Jeanty for his potential big season, Thornton is making sure he is not forgotten after getting selected in the fourth round (108th overall) after leading the University of Tennessee with 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Thornton is getting all the opportunities he can get, given the Raiders didn't bother to add a veteran WR. One could see why Thornton is raising eyebrows in training camp. That is a good thing because Smith is trusting Thornton's potential playmaking abilities. Thornton is one of the tallest Raiders WRs besides Collin Johnson, and that could be a big deal given the Raiders need a big target minus TEs Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas. Yet, ESPN's Mike Clay is projecting Thornton to have a quiet year with 317 receiving yards and a TD. With such low numbers, maybe that is how the Raiders would prefer it to be, anyway. Only the Raiders know what they have in Thornton. It is up to Thornton to keep the momentum going into preseason games and beyond.
Top Islanders Star Tells Asst. GM, 'You Better Not Trade Me'
The New York Islanders are entering a new era under a revamped front office, and signs point to a potential retool—or even a rebuild. The most telling move came at the NHL Draft in June, when the team traded star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for two first-round picks. It’s a rare move in today’s NHL to deal your top blueliner, and it raised eyebrows across the league. Analysts and fans have wondered if more moves are coming. Since there are several teams looking for quality assets at a reasonable salary cap, it’s a logical question. Is Bo Horvat A Potential Trade Candidate? During an appearance on the Cam and Strick Podcast, newly appointed assistant to the general manager Matt Martin—an Islanders fan favorite and longtime forward—revealed a humorous but telling moment from inside the locker room. Martin, now working closely with the Isles’ new GM, said that Bo Horvat texted him immediately after the front office changes were announced. “You better not trade me,” Horvat reportedly wrote. The comments from Martin suggest that Horvat has no desire to leave the team, even if the Islanders aren’t set to be competitive this coming season. If the team is dumping some of their best talents, he does not want to be among those the organization chooses to sell. Horvat likely didn’t have to worry. He has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and even if management were open to asking him to waive it, he could have blocked any deal. It sounds like that would be his intention, so he was getting ahead of things by making sure they knew not to even ask.
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