On Friday, Angel Reese became the first player in WNBA history to record 20 rebounds in consecutive games. On Sunday, she made it three in a row. The Chicago Sky rookie tallied 12 points and 22 rebounds against the Las Vegas Aces to become the only player in league history with three consecutive 20-rebound games. She also tied Tina Charles for the most double-doubles by a rookie with her 22nd of the season, in her 29th game. Charles set the mark in 2010. The Sky have 11 games remaining in the regular season for Reese to claim the record for her own and extend it.
Unfortunately for the Sky, Reese's landmark performance came in a heartbreaking loss. Chicago's Chennedy Carter tied the game at 75-75 with a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining. But A'ja Wilson one-upped Carter on the other end with a buzzer-beating layup on an inbounds play to secure the 77-75 Las Vegas win.
Despite the loss, Reese's effort on Sunday extended a remarkable rookie campaign that's produced multiple records. Reese previously set the WNBA's record for consecutive games with a double-double in a single season with her 10th straight on June 30. She then extended the record for the most consecutive double-doubles, period, with her 13th straight on July 7. She went on to extend the streak to 15 straight games.
Reese entered Sunday's game averaging 13.6 points, a WNBA-best 12.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Sunday's 22-rebound effort upped that league-best rate to 12.9 per game.
Her effort this season earned Reese an All-Star bid and Rookie of the Year buzz alongside rival Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Now she has another entry in the WNBA record book with her sights set on more.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Reese is on pace to break the marks for the most offensive rebounds and total rebounds in a season. As it stands, she needs 11 offensive rebounds to surpass Yolanda Griffith in the former category and 31 total rebounds to move ahead of Sylva Fowles in the latter. At her current pace, Reese would claim both records during the Sky's Sept. 1 game against the Minnesota Lynx.
The Criticism
However, the Sky rookie has received plenty of heat on social media for nabbing offensive rebounds due to her own missed shots. In the wake of growing criticism over her shooting woes, the Sky rookie appeared to fire back at her haters with a blunt message.
Reese wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday, “if it was easy, everybody would be doing it. we good!” The same two-sided historical argument could be made for her peer, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who has been committing a record-high rate of turnovers during her stellar rookie season. But, whereas Clark’s creative offensive playmaking tends to attract more eyes, Reese’s laborious efforts to finish her lay-ups more often than not feel tiresome to watch.
What is the Problem With Angel Reese's Shooting?
Angel Reese has drawn widespread criticism for her struggles around the rim recently, and the data indicates she's on path for one of the worst close-range shooting seasons in WNBA history. The No. 7 overall draft pick is shooting just 43.8 percent on shots inside of five feet this season, a figure that, according to HerHoopStats data dating back to 2018, is the fourth-worst on record among players that started a majority of WNBA games. More damning is that all three players ranked ahead of her, Jackie Young (2019), Kia Nurse (2021) and Victoria Vivians (2022), are backcourt players that combined to attempt just 22 percent of their shots within that distance.
Meanwhile, Angel Reese's 274 attempts inside five feet lead the WNBA by a wide margin this season, and her overall volume — the LSU grad ranks 17th in total field goal tries — makes her a key cog in one of the WNBA's less efficient offenses. Reese's opponents have also notched 8.2 blocks per every 100 possessions against the Chicago forward, the 10th highest in the W.
Despite these historic struggles around the basket, Reese remarkably remains a plus player for the Sky as they battle for the final WNBA Playoff slot. Part of her effectiveness comes, controversially, from cleaning up her own misses around the rim, with 44 of her 135 offensive rebounds on the season coming through that method. But even if you discount these self-rebounds, Reese remains the single most productive WNBA player on the offensive glass.
The Answer
Reese is also a plus defender despite relatively modest block totals, ranking inside the upper third for individual defensive rating this year. Her relentless effort underneath the basket has also earned her the fifth-most free-throw attempts of any WNBA player, where she converts at a respectable 74 percent, and overall her 18.1 player efficiency rating is 29th among 119 eligible players and tied with Caitlin Clark.
A Bright Future
The Sky rookie will look to turn things around in Wednesday’s game against the Washington Mystics. After starring for LSU, and leading the Tigers to a national championship in 2023, Reese fell to No. 7 in the 2024 WNBA Draft largely due to concerns about how her offensive game would translate. Sure enough, she has had trouble finishing around the basket, and is shooting 38.7% for the season. There were no such worries about her ability to do all of the little things that contribute to winning, though, especially rebounding. Just a few months into her professional career, it's clear Reese has what it takes to be an all-timer on the boards.
Angel Reese is one of the most exciting young players in the WNBA. With her talent and determination, she has a bright future ahead of her. While some critics may focus on her shooting, it's clear that she is a force to be reckoned with, and she is only going to get better.
