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Reese was smiling the moment she entered the
arena where her college career took off after transferring from
Maryland. She earned All-America honors twice and led LSU to the
national title in 2023.
“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,” said Reese, who's entering her second season with the
Sky after earning WNBA All-Rookie honors last year, when she set
a league single season rebounding record.
A crowd of 6,373, many of whom wore Sky T-shirts and Reese No. 5
jerseys, cheered her and rookie teammate Hailey Van Lith’s every
move. Van Lith was an LSU teammate of Reese in 2023-24 before
playing her final collegiate season at TCU.
Van Lith entered the game to a loud ovation with 5:43 left in
the third quarter and finished with seven points, five assists
and three rebounds.
Reese and Van Lith were honored before the game with video
highlights of their time at LSU. Tigers coach Kim Mulkey gave
the duo bouquets and hugs.
Kia Nurse added 11 points for the Sky. Chicago's Kamilla
Cardoso, playing against her Brazilian countrywomen, had six
points and eight rebounds.
Manu Alves led Brazil with nine points.
Takeaways
Friday’s game was the first for new Sky coach Tyler Marsh. The
Sky also debuted a revamped starting lineup, with veteran free
agent signees Nurse and Courtney Vandersloot and trade
acquisition Ariel Atkins joining Reese and Cardoso.
The result was a smooth offense guided by Vandersloot, a
four-time all-league guard in her first 12 WNBA seasons with the
Sky. She spent the last two years with the New York Liberty.
Brazil's next stop in its U.S. tour will be an exhibition
against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday at the
University of Iowa's arena in Iowa City, where Clark starred in
college.
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