00:01Long before Angel Reese became the WNBA's top defensive player, she was already making life
00:08difficult for opponents on youth basketball courts. A compilation of childhood footage
00:13shows Reese blocking shots, stealing the ball and refusing to give players an easy path to the
00:18basket. She does more than use her reach. Young Reese stays involved in every play,
00:24pressures the ball and reacts quickly whenever an opportunity to regain possession appears.
00:42Her persistence stands out as she continues contesting, reaching and moving with the action.
00:48The footage now carries additional meaning after Reese was named the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player
00:55of the Year on October 1st. She became the first Atlanta Dream player to win the award after
01:01leading the league with 521 rebounds and recording 77 steals. Years before receiving that honor,
01:08the disruptive defensive presence that became central to her game was already taking shape.
