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Brooke Van Sickle Named PVL Player of the Week in Return From Shoulder Injury

Back from the shoulder injury that cost her two conferences, Nxled star Brooke Van Sickle was the unanimous PVL Press Corps Player of the Week for October 10-17.

Published

8 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Brooke Van Sickle Named PVL Player of the Week in Return From Shoulder Injury

Brooke Van Sickle’s comeback is officially complete. The Nxled Chameleons star was named the unanimous PVL Press Corps Player of the Week for October 10-17, earning the first weekly honor of the All-Filipino Conference Siklab series from the reporters who cover the league.

Van Sickle, a three-time league MVP, missed both the PVL On Tour and the Invitational Conference while recovering from a shoulder injury. She wasted no time reminding everyone what Nxled had been missing. In a sweep of PLDT on October 13, she put up 11 points and eight excellent digs in just two sets of work. Four days later against Farm Fresh, she carried the Chameleons through a five-set escape with 20 points — 14 on attacks and six on kill blocks — plus 16 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions.

“For me, I just take it day by day and just try to give it all in everything, like, whether it’s in training, in the gym. I’m just happy to be back, to be honest. I miss playing volleyball. I miss the Philippines,” Van Sickle said.

She took the award over a crowded field of nominees that included teammate Gel Cayuna, Creamline’s Jema Galanza, Alas Pilipinas setter Jia De Guzman, Choco Mucho pair Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina-Rosales, Mylene Paat-Rezanova and Capital1’s Bella Belen, whose 35-point career game came in the same week.

Van Sickle knows the target on Nxled’s back only grows from here. The Chameleons have since stretched their unbeaten start to 3-0, and the rest of the league now gets its shot at the team setting the early pace.

Photo: PVL Images

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Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.