CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese had just pulled off the best performance of her young career to help the Chicago Sky rally past the Indiana Fever and old college rival Caitlin Clark on Sunday.
There was one more thing to do before leaving the court. She shared an embrace with Naismith Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes, a big supporter of hers and one of several celebrities in a sellout crowd.
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CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese had just pulled off the best performance of her young career to help the Chicago Sky rally past the Indiana Fever and old college rival Caitlin Clark on Sunday.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and center Kamilla Cardoso (10) celebrate a foul on the Indiana Fever during a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and guard Marina Mabrey (4) battle Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) and forward NaLyssa Smith (1) for a rebound during a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Isabelle Harrison (20) guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) is interviewed by Holly Rowe after the Sky defeated the Indiana Fever, 88-87, in a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
“She talked to me before I even entered my name into the draft, and she told me she believed in me,” Reese said. “Being able to have that person in my corner is something I've always needed. She understands me, she knows what I've been through, what I'm going through.”
A game featuring some of the WNBA's brightest young stars delivered in a huge way on a national stage.
Reese had her best outing, scoring a career-high 25 points to go with 16 rebounds to help the Sky rally from 15 down to beat the Fever 88-87. She extended her WNBA rookie record streak of double-doubles to eight games.
She is the first rookie since A’ja Wilson with 25-plus points and 15-plus rebounds in a single game, and she and Wilson are the only players in the league this season to have multiple games with at least 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Clark, meanwhile, finished with 17 points and a franchise-record 13 assists. She made five 3s and grabbed six rebounds, but the Fever couldn't hang on after winning their previous four games.
It was 84-all when Reese scored in the post to put Chicago on top for good with just under a minute remaining following a timeout, drawing a big roar from the crowd.
“I think people are just really excited to see this matchup and anticipate it,” Clark said. “Obviously, it’s two WNBA teams right in the Midwest, where I grew up. I think people in this area are just really excited about this matchup. You could just feel it driving up in the bus.”
Clark saw lines of fans — many wearing her Iowa or Indiana jerseys — outside the arena hours before tipoff.
Courtside seats were going for $5,000 on Ticketmaster an hour before tipoff, and Chicago native Chance The Rapper, comedian Jason Sudeikis and New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson were all part of the sellout crowd. Swoopes got a standing ovation prior to the fourth quarter.
The first month of the season saw the WNBA draw its highest attendance since the league’s second season in 1998. Some games have been moved to bigger arenas to accommodate the increased demand. Ratings across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION and NBA TV were at an all-time high, averaging 1.32 million viewers and nearly tripling last season’s average of 462,000.
“I love it,” Reese said. “I love it for women’s sports because they haven’t sold out crowds in a long time. Being able to do this and being able to be here in this moment, continue to grow women’s basketball is most import to me.”
Clark and Reese met in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, with LSU beating Iowa in the championship game and the Hawkeyes getting payback in the Elite Eight this year. Their first two games as pros were marked by a different kind of drama than the one that unfolded on Sunday.
There was the hip check by guard Chennedy Carter on Clark away from the ball on an inbound play during Indiana's 71-70 win on June 1. Clark got knocked to the floor. Carter was called for a foul that resulted in one free throw, and the league later upgraded it to a flagrant-1.
Carter wound up on the ground again just over two weeks later, this time courtesy of Reese. Her right arm struck Clark's head on a drive to the basket, immediately resulting in a flagrant-1. Both players brushed it off afterward as a basketball play, though Reese also bemoaned “calls that weren't made” and said "I guess some people get a special whistle.”
Sunday's game might have provided a glimpse of what's to come for the WNBA, with the celebrities out and the young stars performing at a high level. And it wasn't just Reese and Clark. Chicago's Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“Both teams tonight did an amazing job putting on a show,” Reese said.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese answers questions before a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and center Kamilla Cardoso (10) celebrate a foul on the Indiana Fever during a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) and guard Marina Mabrey (4) battle Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) and forward NaLyssa Smith (1) for a rebound during a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Isabelle Harrison (20) guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) is interviewed by Holly Rowe after the Sky defeated the Indiana Fever, 88-87, in a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune via AP)
Chelsea knew it was getting a talented player by signing Cole Palmer from Manchester City last year.
But maybe not this good.
Palmer created some history on Saturday when he became the first player to score four goals in the first half of an English Premier League match. His flurry of strikes came in Chelsea's 4-2 win over Brighton that further strengthened the belief that the London team will be a force this season after spending more than $1 billion on players over the past two years.
Palmer was one of the club's expensive signings — he cost at least 40 million pounds ($50.7 million) — but that looks a bargain now. His 22 league goals last season was second only to Man City's Erling Haaland and also included a four-goal haul against Everton, and he is already up to six goals in this campaign in just six games.
Palmer is also a regular in England's squad, scoring the team's goal in the 2-1 loss to Spain in the European Championship final in July.
How City could have done with having Palmer a few hours earlier on Saturday, when the champion drew at Newcastle 1-1 to drop points for the second straight weekend. Haaland was kept scoreless in a league game for the first time this season and stayed on 10 goals. Defender Josko Gvardiol netted for City instead.
Arsenal took advantage of its big rival’s slip-up by beating Leicester 4-2 thanks to two stoppage-time goals — an own-goal and a close-range finish by Kai Havertz.
Arsenal joined first-place City on 14 points but both could be overtaken if Liverpool beat Wolverhampton away in the late game.
Brentford became the first Premier League team to score inside the first minute in three straight games, but couldn't hold on after Bryan Mbeumo's strike and drew with West Ham 1-1.
Everton gained its first win of the season in beating Crystal Palace 2-1 and Fulham won at Nottingham Forest 1-0, with Mexico striker Raul Jimenez scoring in a third straight game.
It was City’s first league match since influential midfielder Rodri was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury sustained in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal last weekend and the champions were far from their fluid best without the Ballon d'Or contender.
Haaland barely got a chance at St. James’ Park, so couldn't tie the record of City great Sergio Aguero in scoring in each of his first six games of a Premier League season.
Gvardiol was a frequent scorer late last season in his forays forward and put City ahead in the 35th minute, collecting Jack Grealish’s inside pass before cutting inside onto his weaker right foot and shooting low into the corner.
Anthony Gordon converted a penalty for Newcastle’s equalizer in the 58th after the England winger — playing as the central striker in the absence of the injured Alexander Isak — was tripped by City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes after running through on goal.
Arsenal's players were left dejected by conceding a stoppage-time equalizer at City last weekend.
Six days later, they were celebrating late goals after Leicester, a promoted team without a win so far, threatened to pull off an unlikely draw at Emirates Stadium from two goals down.
Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard scored for Arsenal in the first half, only for the Gunners' usually obdurate defense to surprisingly let in two goals by Leicester right back James Justin. Justin's second was a stunning volley with the outside of his right foot that went in off the far post.
Arsenal went back in front in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Leandro Trossard volleyed a deep corner by Bukayo Saka toward goal, though it needed a deflection off Wilfred Ndidi to find a way into the net. Havertz bundled in the fourth in the ninth minute of added-on time.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Arsenal's Leandro Trossard, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Chelsea's Cole Palmer (centre) celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with team-mates during a British Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Brighton at Stamford Bridge, London, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Cole Palmer, right, celebrates with his teammate Malo Gusto after scoring his side's 3rd goal during a British Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Brighton at Stamford Bridge, London, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, left, celebrates with teammate Jack Grealish after scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon goes to ground after a foul by Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon shoots to score the equalizing goal from a penalty spot during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the equalizing goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, left, battles for the ball with Newcastle United's Dan Burn, center, and Lewis Hall during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Dan Burn, left, and Manchester City's Erling Haaland battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Newcastle and Manchester City, at St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Saturday Sept. 28, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
