Angel Reese wasted no time proving those who doubted her game wrong in hot start for Sky

CHICAGO — All those folks who doubted whether Angel Reese’s game would translate to the WNBA must feel pretty silly these days.

A month into the season, the No. 7 pick in the draft has answered that question definitively. She’s the only rookie to be averaging a double-double, with 12.3 points and 10.8 rebounds a game, and leads the entire league with 68 offensive boards.

And on Thursday, she became the first rookie in the WNBA’s 28-year history to record a double-double in seven consecutive games. The previous record was shared by Hall of Famer Tina Charles (2010) and Cindy Brown (1998).

Reese finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds in the Sky’s 83-72 win over the Dallas Wings, which snapped Chicago’s four-game losing streak.

“It was a blessing I dropped to seventh, (putting me) with these amazing teammates and amazing coaches,” Reese said. “Being able to have a coach that told me, `Don’t worry about where you were drafted, what number you dropped to.’ She told me just believe in myself. Surprise yourself before you surprise others.

“I knew coming into the league what I was going to bring,” Reese added. “I don’t really care about outside things. I knew my game was going to translate because I rebound and I play hard. I play hard all 40 minutes and you can’t teach that. You can’t teach that dawg mentality.”

Reese was one of the best college players over the last two seasons, an All-American as a junior when she led LSU to the NCAA title. She dominated in the paint, grabbing rebounds and scoring.

But there are plenty of great college players who don’t have the same success as professionals, whose game becomes one-dimensional when they’re going against players who are stronger, better and more experienced than the ones they faced in college.

Reese is well aware there were people, and more than a few of them, who thought that would be her fate. Sure, she could rebound, but how would she fare when she had to scrap under the basket with players who were her size or bigger? Could she still be productive offensively, when so much of her scoring in college was off putbacks and second chances and her outside shot wasn’t consistent?

Reese’s transition has been seamless, however. Or she’s made it look that way, anyway.

After saying at her introductory news conference that she wasn’t taking anything for granted, even a roster spot, Reese has been a starter from Day 1. She scored in double figures in her first five games and had her first double-double in that fifth game.

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Reese seems to have an innate sense of where the ball is and where it’s going to go, doing her best imitation of a vacuum cleaner around the basket. She gives up 4 inches to Wings center Teaira McCowan yet, time and again Thursday, there was Reese, snatching the ball out of the air before McCowan could even position herself. She is always moving, always hustling.

“I just try to get another possession going for us, diving on the floor, trying to get steals, trying to do the dirty work,” said Reese, who had two steals Thursday.

“I’ll mess up my nails and lashes just for my teammates,” the famously fashion-conscious Reese said, drawing laughter from Sky guard Marina Mabrey. “I’m going to do whatever for this team. I think every team needs somebody that’s going to come in and just be in there and do the little things.”

Reese isn’t just Chicago’s most productive player, either. She’s been its most dependable, too. In 14 games, she’s scored fewer than 10 points only twice. There’s been just one game where she failed to reach double figures in either points or rebounds.

“As somebody that people thought wasn’t going to translate, I understand having to just dig it out of yourself and find it even when other people don’t believe. You’ve got to believe in yourself first and that’s going to follow,” said Mabrey, a late second-round pick after helping Notre Dame win a national title.

“I love to see that from her and, honestly, she’s only going to get better. Eighteen and 16, she’s just getting started.”

Though Reese’s shooting percentage Thursday was fine — she was 7 of 13 from the floor — she knows she can improve on her finishing. Before the game, she sat on the sidelines with a member of the coaching staff, watching video to identify where and how she can be better around the basket.

Drawing a foul is nice. Making a basket and getting the whistle would be even better.

“Scoring is going to come for me,” Reese said. “I have a lot more room for improvement. Obviously, I’m not where I want to be, but I am satisfied right now where I am and will just continue to grow my game.”

Who’s going to be foolish enough to doubt her now?

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.