With the WNBA preseason tipping off, fans witnessed one of the most emotional homecomings of the year. Angel Reese returned to Baton Rouge for the first time since being drafted by the Chicago Sky—and it was a night to remember. “I’m just happy to be back to see all the fans, even down to the security guards, because I know how much was put into this program,” Reese said. A crowd of 6,373 showed up, many rocking Sky shirts and Reese’s number 5 jerseys. Every move she and rookie teammate Hailey Van Lith made was met with thunderous applause and cheers.

Friday’s game marked a fresh start for the Chicago Sky. It was the coaching debut for Tyler Marsh and the first look at the team’s new-look starting five. Veterans Kia Nurse and Courtney Vandersloot, along with trade pickup Ariel Atkins, joined rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. And safe to say, the lineup delivered. Reese led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant 89-62 win over the Brazilian national team at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Lincoln Shafer and Hunter Cruse of Locked On Women’s Basketball noticed some interesting tactical tweaks that coach Ime Udoka made to bring the best out of the Bayou Barbie. Lincoln said on the podcast, “The first thing that caught my eye for this Chicago Sky team is the way that Tyler Marsh is getting Angel the ball—because it’s not just postups it’s not just catch the ball at the top. He’s finding different ways to get her the ball on the move. They’re running pick and rolls, inverted pick and rolls—with Angel handling the ball and Courtney Vanderloot setting a screen and popping. That’s definitely something that’s very intriguing to me.”

The first game gave us a glimpse of what Angel Reese can really do under the guidance of Tyler Marsh. There’s never been any doubt about Reese as a player. Sure, her shooting has drawn some skepticism from day one, but her defense? Never in question. The Unrivaled DPOY wrapped up her WNBA rookie season with one of the best rebounding performances in league history. Her 446 total rebounds are the most ever recorded in a single season, and her 13.1 boards per game? The highest average of all time.

For Marsh, the focus has always been on getting the best out of his young stars. And early signs? He’s doing just that. But he’ll be well aware that some of his bench players are making serious noise. Veterans like Rebecca Allen, Elizabeth Williams, and Rachel Banham looked sharp in the win over Brazil. Michaela Onyenwere is another name to watch, as Lincoln says. The Sky seems to have solid depth this season. But that could become a challenge for Marsh later on. After all, having too many good options isn’t always easy to manage.

But there’s another storyline brewing in Chicago. This one? It’s all about HVL and Reese. The Bayou Barbie had to set the record straight last week, speaking out about her relationship with Hailey. And let’s just say—her words probably didn’t sit well with the conspiracy theorists!

Angel Reese gets candid about her relationship with Hailey Van Lith

The idea of Angel Reese teaming up with her old LSU teammate Hailey Van Lith has fans buzzing. Some are excited. Others? A bit skeptical. After all, their time together at LSU didn’t live up to the hype! But Reese is ready to turn the page. She’s promised to play the role of a big sister to HVL and help her adjust to life in Chicago.

At a recent press event during Sky’s training camp, Angel Reese opened up about her bond with Hailey Van Lith. “You know, I know how it is just being the big name, coming to town, expected to do big things,” Reese said. “And I was just telling her, like, ‘Stay calm, stay poised.’ Me and Hailey have a great relationship. I love her. Last year was tough for me, because I didn’t have a lot of vets. So, just being that big sister, I guess, kind of to her this year is super important for her.”

It’s going to be exciting to see how the Chicago Sky grows as a unit this season. Early signs look very promising. Young stars like Kamila Cardoso, Angel Reese, and Hailey Van Lith are sure to benefit from the veteran presence on this Sky roster. All signs point to an eventful season ahead. Stay tuned for more!