Angel Reese has made a smooth transition from college basketball to the WNBA, quickly establishing herself as a notable All-Star. Drafted 7th overall by the Chicago Sky in April, Reese was initially overlooked by the Minnesota Lynx, who traded down a spot to avoid selecting her.
Lynx President and head coach Cheryl Reeve chose to pass on Reese, believing she wouldn’t fit well within the team’s system. Reeve was concerned that adding Reese might diminish the effectiveness of Sylvia Fowles, so the Lynx opted for Alissa Pili instead.
Pili has seen limited playtime, averaging just 6.4 minutes per game, whereas Reese is a key player who rarely sits out. Reeve, who also led Team USA as head coach during the Olympics, did not include Reese in the gold-medal roster. Last month, Reeve watched as Reese and Caitlin Clark helped defeat Team USA at the WNBA All-Star Game—the only loss for the Americans this summer.
Reese has demonstrated that she’s a player around whom teams should build their offensive and defensive strategies, rather than just filling a roster spot. Had the Lynx selected her, they might now be considered one of the league’s top teams. Instead, without Reese, the Sky are struggling to remain competitive.
Looking ahead, if Reeve remains the Team USA head coach, leaving Reese off the roster for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles might be challenging. Meanwhile, Reese’s star continues to rise, and without Caitlin Clark in the mix, she would likely be a strong contender for WNBA Rookie of the Year.
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