Angel Reese’s 18 Rebounds Expose Valkyries’ Interior Weakness—But Did It Matter?

Angel Reese did everything she could on the glass. She grabbed 18 rebounds—more than anyone else on the court—and pushed her way to 17 points. But when the final buzzer sounded, it was the Golden State Valkyries walking off with an 83-78 win over the Chicago Sky.

The stat sheet tells a curious story: both teams had 42 rebounds. Reese alone grabbed nearly half of Chicago’s total. She’s been on a tear—this was her third straight game with at least 15 boards. She now leads the WNBA in both total rebounds (13.1 per game) and offensive rebounds (5.1 per game). She’s also the fastest player in league history to hit 150 rebounds and 50 assists in a season.

Angel Reese has 3 straight 15+ REB games.

That’s tied for the longest streak in WNBA history. pic.twitter.com/QU2ASx8Ard

— Real Sports (@realapp_) June 28, 2025

But her dominance under the rim didn’t swing the game Chicago’s way. And that’s the real story.

Reese Owned the Paint, But Sky Couldn’t Finish

Despite Reese’s effort, the Sky only scored 8 second-chance points off their 8 offensive rebounds. In contrast, the Valkyries were missing key interior defenders due to international duty—three starters were out. That gave Reese room to operate. She got position. She grabbed boards. But Chicago just didn’t make the follow-up shots.

It wasn’t just poor luck. Chicago’s finishing inside has been a concern all season. Even though they’re among the league’s better offensive rebounding teams (10.6 per game), they often fail to convert those extra chances into points.

Valkyries’ Interior Issues Showed—But Didn’t Cost Them

Tough interior play and beating teams on the boards is the identity that Valkyries have developed. Friday night did not clearly show all that. Laeticia Amihere topped their rebound distribution without getting a starting line-up with 9 rebounds.

Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton on her standout performance:

“It just goes to my teammates. I play for them. I play for the city. I play for these wonderful fans out there that give us energy.”

Thornton finished with a career-high 29 point on 8/15 FGs in a very physical game. pic.twitter.com/8l2Qk9HVJK

— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) June 28, 2025

and still their defense was commendable on occasion. The Valkyries keep the score Reese was racking relatively low. They clamped down in some critical situations and buried Chicago in the final minutes with a 12-0 run to overcome an endgame advantage by the Bulls.

Kayla Thornton topped the Golden State scoreboard with a career-high 29 points that included four three-point shots and some key late shot buckets.

What Really Won the Game for Golden State

The Valkyries were outmatched in the paint, but they found other ways to win:

• Free throws: Golden State went 20-of-29 from the line. Chicago? Just 13-of-19.
• Late-game defense: They held Chicago scoreless in the final stretch.
• Perimeter shooting: Thornton and her teammates knocked down enough shots to keep pressure on the Sky.

That balance helped them overcome their weakened frontcourt and hold on for the win.

Reese’s Rookie Season Is Already One for the Books

It’s easy to forget Reese is still a rookie. Her numbers are historic:

• Averaging a double-double through 13 games.
• Multiple double-doubles, including a streak of three straight with 15+ boards.
• A consistent presence in big moments—even in losses.

Her performance in this game may not have led to a win, but it reinforced her value and exposed a weakness in a Valkyries team that usually prides itself on interior toughness.

Quote of the Night

“No team should out-rebound us, given our identity,” said Kayla Thornton postgame. “We should be imposing that on other teams every night… Now, we need to ground ourselves and get back to work.”

It’s a message that suggests Golden State knows they were lucky to escape with the win—and that Reese’s impact didn’t go unnoticed.

Bottom Line

Angel Reese did her job. She controlled the boards, gave Chicago second chances, and kept the Sky in the game.

But basketball isn’t just about rebounding. Without clean finishes, second-chance points don’t mean much. And on a night where the Valkyries were short-handed in the paint, it should have mattered more.

Instead, it was a reminder: dominance on the glass is only one part of the game. The other part? Turning effort into results.

Key Stats – Valkyries vs. Sky (June 28, 2025)