Lisa Leslie, one of the Women’s National Basketball Association‘s most dominant players, has taken an active role in mentoring Angel Reese, the promising forward for the Chicago Sky. Reese, a rising WNBA star, has displayed remarkable progress this season, drawing comparisons to Leslie’s own remarkable career. With Reese averaging 14.2 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in 2025, her performance signals a potential new era of success inspired by Leslie’s guidance.
Leslie’s impressive legacy with the Los Angeles Sparks includes never averaging fewer than 15 points per game in her twelve seasons, alongside multiple seasons with double-digit rebounds. Reese’s 12.6 rebounds per contest this year surpass Leslie’s best rebounding seasons, showing a clear reflection of the lessons Leslie is passing on to her mentee.
Areas Where Leslie’s Expertise Is Enhancing Reese’s Game
Leslie has become an important mentor for Reese, sharing not only professional advice but cultivating a friendship that helps Reese develop her skills on and off the court. This relationship recently featured on Reese’s podcast, Unapologetically Angel, where Leslie offered targeted feedback to help Reese elevate her performance.
Season two, I can’t wait to work with you some more,
Leslie told Reese.
The biggest advice I have for you is going to be how you shoot your layups, period.
—Lisa Leslie, WNBA Legend
Reese’s improvement in shooting accuracy reflects this mentorship. She increased her field goal percentage from 39% last year to over 44% this season, showing a significant jump closer to Leslie’s own early-career growth, when Leslie improved her field goal percentage by nearly 5% from her rookie to sophomore seasons.
While Leslie’s career included some fluctuations in shooting efficiency, she still led the Sparks to consistent playoff appearances from 1999 to 2006, including back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002. Reese’s growing consistency offers hope that she is on a similar path of sustained success.
Comparing Key Statistics Between Leslie and Reese
Beyond scoring and rebounding, Leslie retains advantages in ball security. She never averaged more than four turnovers per game during her career. Reese’s turnovers have increased this season, rising from 2.2 last year to 4.0 in 2025, indicating an area where Leslie’s mentorship could further assist her.
In other areas, Reese shines. She has nearly doubled her assists this year compared to her rookie season, showing an increasing ability to involve teammates effectively. Furthermore, Reese’s free throw percentage has improved by approximately 6.5%, reaching 79% this season, which closely matches Leslie’s career high free throw percentage of 82.4%.
The Road Ahead for Angel Reese with Lisa Leslie’s Support
Like Leslie, Reese is a multiple-time WNBA All-Star and is celebrated as the face of the Chicago Sky franchise. Leslie continues to encourage Reese, as demonstrated during their podcast conversation.
I love the fact that you are putting so much pressure on them defensively, and the idea that you want to get better, I love that.
—Lisa Leslie, Mentor
You [Reese] are going to get better, and I am going to help you get better.
—Lisa Leslie, Mentor
Despite Reese’s undeniable talent, she is currently sidelined with a persistent back injury that has caused her to miss six games in the 2025 season, including the latest match against the Mercury. This mirrors her missed games last year. Still, with 16 games remaining, including an upcoming game against the Washington Mystics, there is ample opportunity for Reese to recover and showcase further growth.
Leslie’s influence remains crucial as Reese pushes through physical setbacks while aiming to translate her rising statistics into sustained excellence on the court. The mentorship between these two athletes represents a promising blueprint for developing the next generation of WNBA stars, highlighting support, skill refinement, and resilience.