Angel Reese set a WNBA record with another 20+ rebound game – but she faced criticism for her shooting inefficiency during the Chicago Sky’s 77-75 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Angel Reese was forced into an unwanted spotlight after a 77-75 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. The WNBA rookie’s 22 rebounds marked her third game in a row where she pulled down 20 or more boards, but she was criticized for setting a new WNBA record.
Instead of getting praise for her rebounding abilities, Reese faced criticism for her shooting efficiency. After a clip from the game clip surfaced online that showed her grabbing four straight offensive rebounds but failing to convert them into points, critics accused her of “stat padding.”
The game was down to the fire, with the Chicago Sky nearly pulling off a win against the reigning WNBA champions. But the game ended in the final second with a buzzer-beater layup from league MVP A’ja Wilson, who capitalized on an assist from Chelsea Gray. For the Aces, the win snapped a two-game losing streak. But critics zeroed in on Reese’s offensive struggles, specifically her decision-making during the missed tips-ins, which eventually led to her being fouled and making two free throws.
Fans piggybacked off Portnoy’s stance, with many accusing Reese of inflating her statistics at the expense of team success. In response to criticism of her rebounding capabilities, Reese went on X to seemingly address her detractors, tweeting: “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. We good!”
Reese’s shooting struggles have become apparent as she adjusts to the professional game. She shot just 25 percent from the field, mirroring her performance in the previous game against the Connecticut Sun. The Sky forward has shot 39.3 percent from the field this season. The drop-off was massive from the 47 percent she shot in her final college season at LSU and the 52 percent she achieved during her NCAA National Championship run.
Angel Reese had 22 rebounds in the loss
Reese missed four putback attempts, which sparked criticism online
Reese broke another WNBA record earlier in the season with a 15-back-to-back double-doubles streak. She averaged 15.3 points and 13.2 rebounds during that period, doubling her offensive rebound efforts from 3.9 to 8.6 per game. Synergy reported her efficiency under the basket also increased during the streak, showing 52.7 percent during the run.
Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon has been supportive of Reese throughout her rookie season. After the rookie forward was named a WNBA all-star, Reese told the media about the confidence Weatherspoon has given her through negativity, including falling to the No. 7 pick in the draft.
“Being able to have a coach that told me, ‘Don’t worry about where you were drafted, what number you dropped to.’ She told me just believe in myself,” said Reese. “Surprise yourself before you surprise others.”
