When ESPN first dropped its Top 25 list, Angel Reese barely made the cut at No. 25. And through her first seven games, shooting just 31%, even that spot sparked debate. But instead of backing down, Reese took it personally. Since then, she’s shooting nearly 49%, has more than doubled her assist numbers from last season, and is stacking up double-doubles like clockwork. As a result, she has climbed up to no.18. Even in losses, she’s remained Chicago’s brightest light, and judging by some sideline reactions, opposing coaches aren’t exactly enjoying the show.

The Minnesota Lynx weren’t about to let the last game outcome repeat itself. After falling to the Chicago Sky on Saturday in a surprise upset, the top team in the league returned Monday night with a fire, and the Sky felt it. Chicago came in hoping to ride the high of that big win, but Minnesota had clearly flipped the switch. Behind a dominant showing from their star trio, the Lynx powered past Chicago 91–78. To be fair, the Sky didn’t go down quietly. They actually put together a solid offensive showing, shooting 43.8% from three. Angel Reese led the way again with a team-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block in 37 minutes.

Rachel Banham added 15 points, and Rebecca Allen chipped in 10 off the bench. But Minnesota simply proved too much to handle. One of Reese’s moments came midway through the fourth quarter, with the Sky trailing 63–70. Camped near the rim and guarded by Bridget Carleton, Reese caught a perfect pass and laid it in, trimming the deficit to just five points. It was a key bucket, but what really stole the show was what happened next. As Reese scored, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve – clearly feeling the pressure – reacted in the most unintentionally hilarious way possible.

Standing on the sidelines, she kicked the air in frustration, a full-on animated outburst that immediately made its way to social media. Fans couldn’t stop replaying it, turning the moment into yet another viral highlight. 

Angel Reese’s move leaves Cheryl Reeve kicking air 

One fan summed it up perfectly, “😂😂😂 she was pissed 😂.” And how could she not be? This was the last of four straight road games for the Lynx, and they were coming off a surprise loss to the Sky just two nights earlier. With a 2–2 split on the trip hanging in the balance, they needed this win badly. And Reese wasn’t making that easy. Sure, she had five turnovers, which contributed to Chicago’s 18 on the night, but she still led the team 

Another fan added to the pile, “Yeah what Angel done her to be that upset…. She must’ve told her players to stop Angel 😂.” That tracks. In Saturday’s game, Reese put up 19 and 11 in the Sky’s upset win, and once again, she was the biggest problem for Minnesota. The viral moment wasn’t just about the kick; it was about everything building up to it. In fact, during that first meeting, fans noticed that as soon as Reese stood up to check back, Reeve immediately sent her starters back in too. That wasn’t a coincidence. She clearly knew who was shifting the momentum.

A third commenter added, “Kick rocks hahahahha.” It was pure frustration, but also hilarious. “Lmao she’s gonna love having her on her team this weekend,” another fan wrote, referencing the All-Star Game. Reese was picked by Napheesa Collier for Team Collier. And while Reeve was originally supposed to coach Team Clark, Caitlin Clark requested a trade, most probably due to lingering tension with Reeve. So now, Sandy Brondello will coach Team Clark while Reeve stays with her Lynx star. Still, fans are curious how Reese and Reeve will vibe on the same side.

And then there was this one, “If Chicago won, she would probably trade a player lol.” A tongue-in-cheek jab. Just after Sky won over Lynx, the Lynx waived Alissa Pili – their first-round pick from the 2024 draft – less than 500 days after selecting her. Which reminds us that the Lynx had actually traded away the No. 7 pick in that same draft. And guess who ended up with it? Chicago. And guess who they picked? Angel Reese. Talk about a full-circle moment, this one practically wrote itself.

But all in all, Reese is playing elite basketball right now, even if her team is sitting at 7–14. No doubt, she is a threat. Meanwhile, the Lynx (19–4) still haven’t lost consecutive games all season. The two teams will meet for their fourth and final matchup later this month, and it’s surely going to be spicy again.