The world has missed the mark with Angel Reese
Few basketball players — male or female — are more heavily and frequently critiqued than Angel Reese. Reese, the 24-year-old Atlanta Dream forward, has been an All-Star in each of her first three seasons as a pro, but is widely known (among casuals) as the hooper who goes viral on social media every couple of […]
The narrative surrounding Angel Reese, a 24-year-old forward for the Atlanta Dream, has been dominated by critiques of her game. Despite leading the LSU Tigers to an NCAA championship in 2023, Reese has been frequently criticized for her inefficiency in the paint and her struggling three-point shooting. However, the story goes beyond these flaws and highlights her exceptional defensive abilities and rebounding skills.
As an All-Star for the past three seasons, Reese has proven to be an invaluable defensive player, significantly improving her team's defensive rating. Her on-off numbers demonstrate her immense impact on the court, unable to find another player in the WNBA who comes close to her defensive abilities. Moreover, the Atlanta Dream’s defensive rating improves by 14.9 points per 100 possessions when Reese is on the floor, compared to 14.9 points worse with her off the floor.
Her defensive prowess is accompanied by her ability to grab an astonishing number of rebounds, averaging 12.1 per game, making her a potential all-time great in the WNBA. Despite the numerous online and off-court critiques, Angel Reese's talent and impact on the game should not be overshadowed by her occasional missteps. The next few years might very well reveal her as an MVP candidate, showcasing the potential of what could be an all-time great basketball player.
Written by urgent.news from SB Nation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
