Why Angel Reese critics should pay more attention to her WNBA rebounding records

Aug 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) looks to pass the ball against the Las Vegas Aces during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Angel Reese has seemingly had enough people criticizing her game, and I don’t blame her.

Look, I will repeat this one for the folks in the back. Let’s say the thing: post players don’t typically get credit for their work because it’s not as electric as a logo three or an ankle-breaking crossover. They’re also not normally dishing out assists. So, their game doesn’t excite the average fan. But willfully ignoring what Reese is doing on the court is mind-boggling.

Yes, her offensive game needs some work. It’s evident that Angel is struggling for several reasons, including head coach Teresa Weatherspoon‘s inability to figure out how to space her bigs properly. (Hence, they don’t have enough operating room around the basket.) Also, Reese rushes her shot because she’s facing a ton of contact, and her bag of footwork and post moves isn’t that deep yet. That said, what we are witnessing from Angel’s rebounding and double-double streak is genuinely remarkable.

Do people suddenly think the entire WNBA just let Angel get to these numbers? No, this isn’t something you just let happen or anything you can teach. This is pure motor and an elite understanding of angles and positioning.

Then, there’s the argument that she’s stat padding and her rebounds are only from her own missed buckets. (Newsflash: they aren’t. And it’s been that way for months.) Tell me you’ve been box-scoring Angel’s games without telling me you’ve only been box-scoring Angel’s games.

As Angel indicated in a post to X (Formerly Twitter), everybody would be doing it if it were that easy. But they aren’t. And there are only so many ways we can say this woman deserves credit for what she’s doing now.

She’s got an entire offseason to get better. Everyone, RELAX.