Angel Reese’s Rookie WNBA Season Was Summed Up In One Play
Fans got the full Angel Reese experience during a thrilling game between the Las Vegas Aces and Chicago Sky. The Aces won on an A'ja Wilson buzzer beater, but it was a play a bit before that which served as a great summation of Reese.
Angel was battling A'ja down low on one sequence late in the fourth quarter. Reese either missed or had her shot altered on numerous attempts, yet she kept relentlessly pursuing the basketball until she drew a foul.
A’JA Wilson LOCKED UP Angel Reese and she got 4 rebounds off of it. 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/qQtwqQbnEi
— Heavenly Buckets on youtube (@giannisarchive) August 25, 2024
That helped her to reach a total of 22 boards to give Reese three consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds, a feat never achieved before in WNBA history. Of course she did go only 4-16 from the floor, and her finishing woes have become the subject of widespread mocking.
It is fair to criticize her touch around the hoop. Reese is shooting under 40% for the season overall and under 44% from less than five feet from the basket. But that does not take away from what she does bring to the table.
The instincts and tenacity shown in the play above cannot be taught. Neither can the defensive effort and versatility she has shown in her rookie season. And while Angel's rebounding totals would surely go down some if she were to convert on her initial attempts, her ceiling also goes way up if she could become a more efficient finisher. Reese could also stand to kick the ball out to a teammate on some of the extra possessions she creates.
The bottom line is that there is nuance to a Reese discussion. Part of the extra scrutiny has come because many were trying to force a Rookie of the Year debate. But Caitlin Clark running away with that distinction does not change the fact that Reese possesses a generational ability herself.
ANGEL REESE HAS 62 REBOUNDS IN HER LAST THREE GAMES 🤯
— Overtime (@overtime) August 25, 2024
11 PTS | 22 REB
13 PTS | 20 REB
19 PTS | 20 REB
NOT NORMAL pic.twitter.com/sEU3sRO7qy
Reese has an astounding 62 rebounds over her last three games. That is not something that should go unnoticed or be diminished.
Because while Angel has areas she obviously needs to work on, Barbie is undeniably a beast on the boards.
ROBIN LUNDBERG
Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his burgeoning YouTube show. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak on SI!