It’s only preseason, but…
The women’s basketball gods blessed us with quite the matchup, as Angel Reese will make her (preseason) debut for the Atlanta Dream against the Chicago Sky, the team that traded her away after two All-Star seasons in the Windy City (7 p.m. ET, WNBA App).
Hopefully, fans and stans on all sides can take their cues from Reese, who rejected any notions of revenge and simply said of her return:
No, just another exciting opportunity for me to be in Chicago. I loved my experience
there. It was amazing, and seeing a lot of familiar faces on Wednesday is going to be good.
For Dream fans, the game is a chance to see how Reese fits within an Atlanta offense that was one of the most efficient in the league last season. Will she be shooting 3s? Will she receive some point forward opportunities, whether on the break or even in the halfcourt? Will offensive rebounding and hustle buckets be her primary offensive role? It will also be worth watching what the always-energetic Angel, an underrated defender, can bring to a Dream defense that also was elite last season.
Rhyne Howard exuded optimism about Atlanta’s potential after a recent practice, saying:
We’re working extremely hard. The way we practice, the way we come in and continue to learn and get at least one percent better each day, I think we’ve done a good job of that.
Every day proves that we can be special. Good or bad, we’re still celebrating each other. We’re talking, moving on to the next play and focusing on what we can do.
For Sky fans, the contest is a second opportunity to evaluate the team’s new identity, with Skylar Diggins running point, Rickea Jackson scoring from the wing, Jacy Sheldon providing two-way juice and a more empowered Kamilla Cardoso in the post.
Let us know what you hope to see from Atlanta and Chicago on Wednesday night.
While Angel will grab the headlines, preseason games often are more consequential as a proving ground for players fighting for a roster spot. What training camp invitees do you have your eye on as potential end-of-bench contributors for the regular season? What about the rookies? What do you want to see from the Dream’s Madina Okot and the Sky’s Gabriela Jzquez?
The Tempo and Fire take the WNBA (preseason) floor for the first time
Wednesday also brings the first preseason games for the league’s latest expansion teams: the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.
The Tempo are hosting the Connecticut Sun (7 p.m. ET, WNBA App), while the Fire are visiting the Seattle Storm (10 p.m. ET, WNBA App).
Zack Ward recently wrote about Toronto, highlighting how Marina Mabrey could prove to be the perfect star for Canada’s first WNBA team.
Do you think Mabrey can carry a team as a No. 1 offensive option? How do you feel about the backcourt fit with Brittney Sykes? Are there other members of the Tempo that you think could thrive in a new, bigger role? And, are you confident that Kiki Rice can show she is WNBA-ready right away? (I am!)
The Fire’s preseason debut inspires even more intrigue, as it will be the first opportunity to watch the offensive philosophies of head coach Alex Sarama in action.
Beckett Harrison just explained Sarama’s Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) and conceptual offense, noting that they can be difficult for players to master. That’s probably doubly true for an expansion team full of players unfamiliar with each other. So, maybe we should temper our expectations for the Fire. I’m expecting some really good possessions, balanced by more that trend towards a bit too much chaos.
Based on what you understand about Sarama’s philosophies, which players do you think could thrive in Portland? Or, who do you hope has an opportunity to take her career to another level? I would love for the Fire to become the long-term WNBA home for Haley Jones, as she possesses the kind of intuitive, versatile game that should be maximized in Sarama’s systems.
