Angel Reese’s rookie season in the WNBA was great. The Sky think it’s just the starting point for her stardom.
New coach Tyler Marsh is directing Reese’s future, and he sees more possibilities in her game than she showed last season. Being a force in the post got her this far, but now it’s time to broaden her game to the rest of the floor.
Marsh is thinking the same way about center Kamilla Cardoso, who, like Reese, was an All-Rookie team selection last season. And while it’ll be a long process, the Sky hope to see some results this season.
‘‘We just don’t want to be one-dimensional,’’ Marsh said. ‘‘We look at Kamilla as someone who can dominate in the low post and Angel as someone who’s just dominant on the boards, but both of them are so much more than that. We want to instill confidence in them that they can be effective in all areas of the floor.’’
That approach will ask for a lot from Reese, but it might be good for her and the team. Versatility is at a premium for players as teams trend toward a position-less style of play.
Marsh is nudging Reese toward the perimeter at both ends of the floor, and she looked comfortable in limited minutes Friday in an exhibition game against the Brazilian national team. The Sky likely will want more of that in their preseason game Tuesday against the Lynx at Wintrust Arena.
Marsh wants Reese to pressure more defensively, and she got her hand on the ball several times on the perimeter against Brazil. And now that general manager Jeff Pagliocca added outside shooters in the offseason, there’s an opportunity for Reese to create by driving and kicking, beat defenders to the basket off the dribble and eventually progress as an outside shooter.
Reese already has noticed a difference in how she’s being used.
‘‘It doesn’t seem like I have a choice because I’m put everywhere,’’ she joked while making clear she’s on board with expanding her game. ‘‘There are not a lot of [power forwards and centers] in this league that are as versatile as me and Kamilla running the floor, and we love that.’’
There’s no question Reese has the skills. Her passing ability was evident in the Unrivaled three-on-three league, she has good form as a shooter and her athleticism has never been in doubt.
Looking back on Reese’s college career, Marsh pointed to her pushing the pace and shining as a facilitator at times at Maryland before blossoming into an unstoppable post player at LSU. He’s looking for ‘‘a blend of the two’’ with the Sky.
Reese didn’t necessarily have to go outside her comfort zone as a rookie. She made the WNBA All-Star team and averaged 13.6 points and a league-best 13.1 rebounds, all while taking 85% of her shots inside 10 feet, including 56% from three feet or closer. She shot only 3-for-16 on three-pointers.
Again, her way worked. But imagine that inside game paired with the threat of mid- and long-range shooting to keep defenders honest.
‘‘All of our coaches have put in a lot of work with Angel, and it’ll continue to grow,’’ Marsh said. ‘‘It comes with work ethic, which Angel has a lot of. We want Kamilla to get to that point, too, because she can shoot it, as well.
‘‘It’s step-by-step. We don’t know when it’s going to come, but that’s where we want to get to. Until then, it’s about utilizing what their strengths are now.’’
It’s also about 2026. The WNBA is headed toward a free-for-all as a flood of free agents hit the market after this season. And the more the Sky develop Reese and Cardoso into championship-caliber pieces, the more attractive they’ll be to top talent. There’s a lot to be gained from it for this season and beyond.