Paige Bueckers' Coach Makes Strong Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Statement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated May 29, 2025 9:26 PM ET

The Dallas Wings traveled to Illinois on Thursday to play the Chicago Sky, marking a clash between No. 1 overall píck Paige Bueckers and 2024 WNBA All-Star Angel Reese.

Wings head coach Chris Koclanes, speaking earlier in the day, offered a pointed assessment of the Sky’s offensive blueprint.

"They’re playing extremely fast," Koclanes told reporters. "They’re flying up the floor and you’ve got extremely mobile posts with Angel and Kamilla. When they can play fast and free, they’re really dangerous. So, if we can slow them down, that would be great."

Koclanes continued, "And then it’s all about second chances. We’ve got to be good early, and then we’ve got to be good late. If we can get them slowed, and then all five rebounding. Those posts are just dynamic on the glass… It’s gotta be a group effort on the boards.”

Reese was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft after a storied collegiate career at LSU.

In her rookie season, Reese established herself as one of the league’s premier rebounders, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game, both the highest single-season average and total in WNBA history by a rookie (446 total rebounds).

She recorded a double-double in 26 games, the most by any rookie, and posted 15 consecutive double-doubles, a single-season WNBA record.

By early in the 2025 season, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to amass 500 points and 500 rebounds, doing so in just 38 games and eclipsing the previous mark set by Tina Charles (44 games).

Despite Chicago’s slow start this year, Reese has continued to pile up rebounds, registering at least 12 boards in each of her first four games of the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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