BREAKING :Angel Reese Makes WNBA History, Becomes Youngest Award Winner Since Brittney Griner…BREAKING: Angel Reese Makes WNBA History, Becomes Youngest Award Winner Since Brittney Griner
Angel Reese has added another milestone to her rapidly growing WNBA résumé, becoming the youngest player to receive the award since Brittney Griner, according to the record being reported.
At just 24 years old, Reese continues to establish herself as one of the league’s most productive young stars. Her latest recognition adds another chapter to a professional career that has moved quickly from highly touted rookie to one of the WNBA’s most prominent frontcourt players.
Reese’s rise has been built largely around her dominance on the glass. In the 2026 season, she has emerged as the WNBA’s leading rebounder, averaging 12.1 rebounds per game, according to Basketball-Reference’s current league statistics.
That production has helped keep Reese firmly among the league’s leading performers while she continues to expand her impact beyond scoring.
Another milestone for Reese
The latest award represents another significant achievement for a player whose professional career began only two seasons ago.
Reese entered the WNBA after a decorated college career at LSU, where she helped lead the Tigers to the 2023 national championship. The WNBA highlighted her college résumé ahead of the 2024 draft, noting that she was the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player during LSU’s title run and had earned multiple major individual honors.
She was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, joining a highly regarded rookie class that included Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Cameron Brink.
Reese quickly translated her rebounding ability to the professional level. Her physical presence, activity around the basket and consistency on the boards became defining features of her game.
Now, in her third WNBA season, those qualities have continued to separate her statistically.
Reese’s 2026 impact
The 2026 season has marked another step forward for Reese.
After moving from Chicago to Atlanta during the offseason, Reese has remained one of the WNBA’s most productive rebounders. The Atlanta Dream acquired her as part of a major offseason reshuffling that saw numerous established players change teams.
Her numbers have followed her to Atlanta.
Current league statistics list Reese first in rebounds per game at 12.1. She is also among the league leaders in several other statistical categories, underscoring the breadth of her contribution.
The numbers provide important context for the latest recognition. Reese has not simply been accumulating attention because of her profile; she has continued to produce at an elite level in one of the most important areas of her position.
Her rebounding has also produced historic company.
Earlier in August, Reese recorded another double-double against the Las Vegas Aces, finishing with 23 points and 16 rebounds. That performance gave her the 69th double-double of her WNBA career, tying Griner’s career total at the time, according to MARCA USA.
That connection to Griner is particularly notable because the former No. 1 pick has been one of the defining interior players of the modern WNBA.
Following a familiar name
Griner has been a major figure in the league since entering the WNBA in 2013. Her combination of size, scoring and defensive ability helped establish her as one of the most recognizable players of her generation.
Reese is now creating statistical links with Griner while still in the early stages of her own career.
The comparison does not mean their games are identical. Griner built her reputation around elite shot-blocking and scoring inside, while Reese has become particularly renowned for her rebounding and relentless work around the basket.
Still, appearing alongside Griner in the league’s record book represents a significant achievement for Reese.
It also highlights how quickly the 24-year-old has accumulated milestones since entering the league.
From LSU star to WNBA standout
Reese’s professional trajectory began with enormous expectations.
At LSU, she became one of the biggest names in college basketball. During the Tigers’ 2023 championship season, she averaged 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game and recorded an NCAA-record 34 double-doubles, according to the WNBA’s pre-draft profile.
Those accomplishments made her one of the most anticipated prospects in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The transition to the professional game brought new challenges, but Reese immediately demonstrated that her rebounding could translate.
By her third season, she is no longer simply viewed as a promising young player. Her statistical production has made her one of the league’s most reliable rebounders.
The latest award adds another piece to that development.
A growing place among the WNBA’s young stars
Reese is also part of a broader generation reshaping the league.
The WNBA has welcomed a wave of young stars in recent seasons, including Clark, Paige Bueckers and other players who have quickly moved into major roles. Reese’s presence is an important part of that next generation.
Her selection to the U.S. national team setup for the 2026 World Cup further underlined her growing standing. The Washington Post reported that Reese was among the young WNBA stars making their first appearance with the senior U.S. national team at the World Cup.
That progression—from college champion, to WNBA rookie, to league statistical leader and international player—has happened in a remarkably short period.
The next chapter
At 24, Reese still has significant room to develop her game.
Her rebounding numbers already place her at the top of the league, but her offensive role continues to evolve. Every season brings another opportunity for her to expand her scoring, playmaking and defensive impact.
For now, however, the latest award provides another moment to recognize how far she has come.
Reese has already built a résumé filled with college championships, professional milestones, statistical records and individual honors. Her latest achievement adds another line to that résumé and places her name alongside one of the WNBA’s most accomplished stars in Griner.
The significance of the moment extends beyond one award.
It reflects the speed of Reese’s rise and the impact she has made since entering the league in 2024.
At only 24, she is already rewriting parts of the WNBA record book.
And with several years still ahead of her, the latest milestone may prove to be only one of many more to come.
