Angel Reese’s WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles ended at 15 during the Chicago Sky’s 81-67 loss to the New York Liberty on Saturday.
The rookie grabbed 16 rebounds with eight points, often compared to Kennedy Burke. New York was without leading scorer Breanna Stewart, who was sidelined with a right hamstring injury.
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello told reporters afterward that Stewart likely could have played, but he “thought it was smartest to give her a rest.”
Reese had a chance to score 10 points with 17 seconds left in the game, but as she reached the baseline, she was quickly surrounded by four Liberty defenders in the paint.
Her ability to reach double figures in points was limited by five personal fouls and a poor 3-for-13 shooting effort late in the game, but it looked like Reese’s streak would continue with eight points and 10 rebounds in the fourth quarter.
Sabrina Ionescu scored a game-high 28 points with six assists. Leonie Fiebich scored 13 points with six rebounds, Jonquel Jones had 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Ivana Dojkic added 12 points for the Liberty, who improved their league-best record to 20-4.
Marina Mabrey scored 21 points with 12 rebounds and Michaela Onyenwere added 14 off the bench for the Sky, whose record fell to 9-14. Chicago’s leading scorer, Chennedy Carter, played just 15 minutes and scored seven points.
If asked after the match When Carter was sick or injured, Sky coach Teresa Witherspoon said, “She was fine.”
Reese set a WNBA record with her 13th consecutive double-double on Sunday, with 17 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to the Seattle Storm. The record was previously held by Candace Parker, who had 12 consecutive double-doubles in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. She extended that record to 15 straight on Thursday against the same Liberty team.
Perhaps even more impressive, Reese set her record as a 22-year-old rookie in the first 20 games of her WNBA career. Parker set her consecutive double-doubles streak in her eighth season at age 29.
Reese is currently the leading rebounder in the WNBA, averaging 11.8 per game.
The Sky travel to face the Las Vegas Aces (15-7) on Tuesday, their penultimate game before the All-Star Game and a break for the Paris Olympics. The Liberty host the Connecticut Sun (17-5) in a matchup of the WNBA’s top two teams.