It was Angel Reese’s 22nd birthday, and it couldn’t have been more unforgettable. She turned heads at the 2024 Met Gala, donning a custom mint green gown by 16Arlingto and Stuart Weitzman heels, embellished with over 600 crystals. But for Chi-Town Barbie, the birthday celebration didn’t stop there. She even hit the court that day, participating in training camp, where her teammates surprised her with a cheerful “Happy Birthday” rendition. Fast forward a year, and not much has changed.

Or maybe nothing except one thing — she’s now on the Met Gala host committee. This time, she stunned in a two-piece black dress by Thom Browne, paired with over 107 carats of Graff diamonds, including pear-shaped earrings and several rings. The catch? It was just a day before her birthday, giving her plenty of time to celebrate… or so we thought.

Because the next day, Angel Reese was back in action—and back in the spotlight.

She helped the Chicago Sky pull off a hard-fought 74-69 win over the Minnesota Lynx, contributing 9 points and 8 rebounds in just 19 minutes. While she narrowly missed another preseason double-double, Reese still made headlines. But not just for what she did on the court. It was her off-court moment that melted hearts across the fanbase.

An eyewitness spotted Reese and her teammates spending nearly an hour postgame, singing happy birthday and engaging with season ticket holders. While Reese, who admittedly waited for her day off, could have retired to her room post-game, chose to share her birthday with the fans—and honestly, why not? She had every reason to.

Because in that very game, she stood toe-to-toe with none other than Napheesa Collier—the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, a first-team All-WNBA selection, and last season’s MVP runner-up, trailing only A’ja Wilson.

And Reese shut her down. Every time Collier tried to make her presence felt, there was Reese—holding her ground, battling in the paint, and flipping the momentum. The result? Collier was held to just 8 points in 20 minutes—nowhere near her usual dominance. It was unexpected, especially from a player who averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last season and made history with a 30+ point, 8+ steal, 5+ rebound, 2+ block performance against the Sparks. Coming into 2025, Collier remains one of the top MVP contenders.

So for Reese—now in her second season, averaging 13.6 points per game—to hold her own and outplay someone of Collier’s caliber? That’s huge. But here’s the twist: The poise Reese displayed? Collier may have played a part in it.

Ahead of the Unrivaled’s inaugral season, the Sky star and the league’s co-founder were seen working out together under Lisa Leslie’s guidance. Further, Reese used that very league to grow her game, winning the DPOY award, making the All-Unrivaled second team, and adding a trophy to the cabinet.

So add that to the list of gifts for Reese’s birthday– diamonds, Met gala spotlight, and a competitive fire passed down.

Angel Reese came all prepared for the preseason dominance!

After the abrupt end to her rookie season, Angel Reese made it a mission to learn as much as she could during her first offseason. She signed with Unrivaled, where WNBA legend Lisa Leslie took her under her wing, coaching her and refining her skills.

“The biggest advice I have for you is going to be how you shoot your layups. We’re going to fix that. That’s fixable for you,” Leslie shared, beginning with noting down her weak points.

But her mentorship extended far beyond just advice. Leslie worked closely with Reese in hands-on drills, and it showed. In one Unrivaled game, Reese’s enhanced footwork and improved finishing ability were on full display—she scored 16 points on 3-of-6 shooting while grabbing 15 rebounds, including five offensive boards.

“Her ability to bring the ball up, her passing skills have improved—but listen, it’s the defense for me… the offense and the paint finishes. Take your time, read the defense, keep the ball high off the glass,” Leslie emphasized. While the talent was already there—after all, Reese averaged 13.1 rebounds per game, the highest single-season average in WNBA history—what she needed was refinement. And clearly, it worked.

In the Sky’s recent win over the Minnesota Lynx, Reese shot 44.4% from the field—a noticeable bump from her rookie layup percentage. Though not elite yet, it’s a clear sign of technical progress, likely thanks to Leslie’s offseason work with her.

What’s more, Reese played with far more composure. She had zero turnovers, a clear reflection of Leslie’s advice to slow down, read the defense, and stay in control. While she didn’t record any assists or blocks and posted a modest -6 +/-, her off-ball movement and activity on the glass helped the Sky maintain momentum during tough stretches.

Gets you wondering if Napheesa Collier indirectly aided the growth. Because without Unrivaled and the mentorship the off-season sparked, this version of Angel Reese may have taken a little longer to bloom.