Angel Reese has quickly established herself as one of the standout rookies in the 2024 WNBA season, building on her impressive college career at LSU. Selected in the first round of the draft, Reese has become one of the league’s top rebounders, recently grabbing an astonishing 22 rebounds in a game against the Las Vegas Aces.
However, alongside her success on the boards, Reese has faced criticism, particularly regarding her struggles with scoring around the rim. Some critics have gone so far as to accuse her of “stat padding,” suggesting that her missed shots are intentional attempts to inflate her rebounding numbers.
In her latest performance against the Aces, Reese’s stat line added fuel to the fire. While she secured another double-double with 11 points and 22 rebounds, her shooting left much to be desired, as she made just 25% of her field goal attempts.
Among her 12 missed shots, several occurred close to the basket, raising eyebrows as she quickly grabbed her own rebounds. One particularly glaring moment came when Reese missed a wide-open three-pointer, only to swiftly retrieve the ball and attempt another shot. This sequence, along with other missed opportunities near the rim, has led some to question the legitimacy of her rebounding stats.
RELATED: Angel Reese Fires Back at Critics Amid Shooting Struggles
Reese currently leads the WNBA in rebounding, averaging 12.9 boards per game, with a significant portion of those coming from the offensive glass. She has accumulated 152 offensive rebounds this season, a staggering 63 more than the next closest player, Aliyah Boston. Her dominance in this area has sparked debate about whether her high rebound totals are a result of skill and effort or simply a byproduct of her shooting struggles.
Despite the criticism, former WNBA player Val Whiting has come to Reese’s defense, rejecting the notion that Reese is padding her stats. Whiting took to social media to highlight Reese’s work ethic, pointing out that in one sequence, Reese out-hustled three Aces players, two of whom were 6’5″, to secure rebounds off her own misses.
“In one sequence, Angel Reese just repeatedly outworked 3 Aces players (two players 6’5) to get rebounds off of her own misses. Argue with a wall if you don’t think that takes talent and skill,” Whiting wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Whiting argues that Reese’s ability to consistently position herself for rebounds speaks to her talent and determination, rather than an attempt to artificially boost her numbers. While Reese’s struggles with finishing at the rim (<40% on 2-point attempts) are evident, Whiting insists that her rebounding prowess is a testament to her hard work on the court.
The debate over Reese’s stats is likely to continue as the season progresses, especially if she continues to post eye-popping rebounding numbers despite her shooting woes. Whether her critics will be convinced remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Angel Reese is making a significant impact in her rookie season, even if it comes with its share of controversy.
