Sky debutant Angel Reese trailed New York Liberty 81-67 in Chicago on Sunday, needing just two points to extend her WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles to 16.
But even with the game all but decided, the WNBA-leading Liberty had no intention of becoming a historical footnote. So when the 22-year-old power forward got the ball in the post with 14 seconds left, a quartet of New York defenders descended on Reese, all but ending her streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles.
“Angel Reese has four Liberty players around him,” ESPN commentator Holly Rowe said as the LSU product was forced to make a desperate pass from the quadruple team.
“Fans were screaming to get the ball to Reese,” Rowe continued as Chicago’s guards challenged time.
“Angel Reese’s double-double streak is over,” Rowe concluded. “She had a WNBA record of 15 consecutive double-doubles.”
Reese needed two more points for another double double, but was stifled by a quadruple team
Angel Reese made just 3 of 13 shots and struggled with fouls in the second half
Fans online were divided over the outcome.
Some felt that Reese was simply trying to pad her statistics by extending her own double-double streak. (A “double double” refers to a player reaching double figures in two statistical categories in a single game.)
Meanwhile, in the final seconds of the game, others began to criticize the Liberty players for their suffocating quadruple team.
“Damn they didn’t let her have it,” one fan wrote on X.
Some, on the other hand, congratulated the Liberty for tackling Reese and preventing her from breaking the record.
“I would like to officially announce that I am a New York Liberty fan,” wrote another fan on X.
It was Chicago’s second loss to New York in the last three days.
New York (20-4) was without star player Breanna Stewart due to a hamstring injury, but Ionescu stepped up to take charge and the visitors took control with a 14-0 run to close the first half.
The Sky (9-14) didn’t give up, but Ionescu, who scored 21 points in Thursday’s 91-76 home game against Chicago, hit four of the Liberty’s 11 made 3-pointers and scored eight of her team’s last 11 points.
Meanwhile, Reese made just 3 of 13 shots. She was fouled in the second half and even called for a technical foul after throwing the ball away from the officials.
Despite her offensive struggles, Reese still had a game-high 16 rebounds.
Marina Mabrey had 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Chicago, which lost 4-8 at home.
New York’s Nyara Sabally and Leonie Fiebich team up with Chicago rookie Angel Reese
New York trailed by seven points after one quarter, and 34-29 with about five minutes left in the first half. Then the tide turned and the Liberty took over, scoring the final 14 points of the second half to take a nine-point lead at halftime.
Ivana Dojkic (12 points) scored five straight points to start that run. Leonie Fiebich (13 points) also posted five straight points later during the revival for the Liberty, who outscored the Sky 29-13 in the second quarter.
The Liberty scored nine of the first 15 points to open the third quarter, with Ionescu’s bucket followed by her long 3 for a 52-40 advantage. Ionescu had seven points in the third quarter, but after making three straight free throws to give New York a 61-48 lead, Mabrey hit back-to-back 3s to make it a seven-point affair in the fourth quarter.
Mabrey scored 11 points in the first quarter, making 4 of 7 field goals and two 3-pointers. Chicago took a narrow 9-2 lead going into the second period up 21-14.
Jonquel Jones added 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three blocks for New York.