The countdown to the WNBA preseason is officially on, and Angel Reese isn’t just preparing to hit the ground running—she’s making sure the first step back is personal.
In what’s shaping up to be an emotional homecoming, the Chicago Sky are heading to Baton Rouge for a preseason clash against the Brazilian national team. The matchup will take place at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the very court where Reese became a household name with the LSU Tigers. And if you thought she wasn’t hyped about it, think again.
“Bayou Barbie is coming home NEXT FRIDAY,” Reese shared via her Instagram story. “Be there!”It’ll be a full-circle moment for the Chicago Sky rookie-turned-star, but she won’t be alone. Her LSU running mate, Hailey Van Lith, will also make her return to Baton Rouge after being selected No. 11 overall by the Sky in this year’s draft. The dynamic duo led LSU to a 31-6 record last season and a Final Four berth before falling to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes.

Now, they’re back—this time as pros.
Angel Reese’s Advice to Hailey: “Be in Shape”
The WNBA grind hits different, and Angel Reese wasted no time dropping gems for her former (and now current) teammate. With Van Lith set to debut in the league this year, she asked Reese what to expect. The answer? Simple but crucial.
“As long as you’re in shape,” Van Lith recalled Reese telling her. “You can take the bumps and the bruises as they come, but if you’re gassed, that’s a hard place to be in in training camp.”

It’s a sisterly exchange between two former SEC stars now on a mission to bring some heat to Chicago. With Reese already making waves in her rookie campaign and Van Lith ready to make her mark, the Sky are entering the preseason with momentum, and Baton Rouge will be the first to witness the show.

Angel’s return to LSU won’t just be a celebration—it could be the spark that sets off a special season.
For more sports content:
Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for your NBA and college basketball reading fix. You can reach out to Dan Agulto through email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.