An NBA Analysis

Angel Reese: Flawed Yet Fearless Force in the WNBA 

Why Her Journey is Just Beginning

Angel Reese, currently one of the most captivating WNBA players to enter the league is a paradox. On one hand she is making her case as a generational rebounder, who is already rewriting the record books; on the other hand, she struggles with efficiency and scoring. This makes her one of the most perplexing players to evaluate.

Currently Angel is in conversations for ROY (Rookie of The Year) with fellow rookie and “rival”, Caitlyn Clark, and this has fans, media, and analyst debating on who is more deserving of the title. Angel Reese in her own right is doing something amazing on the court, but are her current flaws too glaring to be overlooked? 

The Paradox: The Dominantly Flawed

Angel Reese has made headlines not only for her record-breaking stats, but for her enigmatic style of play. Though she is celebrated for her dominance on the glass, she is often criticized for her inefficiency on the hardwood. 

When the media discusses Reese’s rookie season they often speak of her rebounding ability and her consistent double — doubles. However, what isn’t often discussed is that a lot of her rebounds comes from her own misses around the rim. This presents an interesting contradiction that makes her a compelling player to watch in the WNBA.

Reese: The Rebounding Machine

To talk about Angel Reese is to talk about rebounding. Since entering the league, Reese has shattered multiple WNBA rebounding records, and not just for rookies but for the entire league. Averaging 12.3 rebounds per game, Angel leads the league and has set the record for the most consecutive double — doubles by any player.

Offensively, her ability to gather rebounds have been nothing short of amazing. Reese is averaging 5 offensive boards and also leads the league in that category as well. What’s even more impressive is that she possesses an almost instinctive understanding of where the ball will land, a skill that cannot be taught. 

Her relentless pursuit of rebounds has led to her becoming the best in the league in second-chance points, adding another layer of value to her rebounding prowess. Based on her current trajectory she is on pace to be the all-time leader in rebounding.

Double - Double Streak: Impressive or Misleading?

A player averaging a double — double is a feat that should be acknowledged, because it doesn’t come easily. A double — double is an indicator that the player is making an all-around impact on the court that translates to wins. But as stated earlier in Angel Reese’s case, a lot of her rebounds comes from her own misses. So how impactful is her double- double? Is this achievement masking other deficiencies within her game?

For example, in several games during her streak, Angel shot less than 30% from the field. In a game against the New York Liberty, she had 13 points and 10 rebounds but shot an abysmal 2-for-9 from the floor. Similar instances happened playing against the Las Vegas Aces and the Washington Mystics. She will get her double- double but will struggle greatly with her shooting.

Reese’s poor shooting is even more concerning when compared to the league average. The average WNBA player converts 49% of their two-point attempts, a figure that includes guards who face more challenges scoring inside due to their size. For someone like Reese, who operates primarily in the paint, shooting 40% on two-pointers is simply not acceptable.

The Rookie of The Year Race: Angel Reese or Caitlyn Clark?

Currently the ROY award for this 2024 WNBA season is between two players who have taken the league by storm. Both Angel Reese and Caitlyn are carving out a name for themselves and building upon their own legacies in the “W”. 

While Reese has been lauded for her rebounding and double-doubles, Clark has emerged as the more complete player. Clark leads the WNBA in assists and is already being hailed as one of the best point guards in the league.

What sets Caitlyn apart from Angel is her ability to play within the flow of the game. Angel who has shown a desire to chase double — doubles at times, Cailtyn focuses on winning plays and allow her stats to come to her naturally. Clark’s style of play has also led the Indiana Fever into the playoffs something that hasn’t been achieved since 2016.

Unfortunately, it has been recently announced that Angel Reese has injured her wrist in a game against the Los Angeles Sparks, and it is a season ending injury. So, the ROY award discussion is more than likely over as Clark continues to build her case as she continues to play on throughout the rest of the season.

Greatness on The Horizon

Despite pointing out Angel Reese’s flaws, I think there is a lot of potential to grow into an All-Star caliber player. Her rebounding is already one of the best in the league. It’s believable that she will improve her efficiency over time. A huge indicator that will happen is her percentage at the free throw line. Currently she is making 73% of her free throws this season. This suggests that she has the potential to develop a reliable jump shot.

Comparisons are already being made with A’ja Wilson, a player who has won championships and won league MVP. Wilson, now one of the most dominant players in the league, also struggled with inefficiency early in her career. However, over time, she developed a mid-range game and even became a threat from beyond the arc, transforming herself into an unstoppable force.

Reese has the ability to go down a similar path as Wilson. With the extended off season, she will have recovering from her injury this is something she can get a head start on. If she can improve her offensive skills, improve her touch around the basket, and shift her focus from individual stats to team success, there’s no reason why she couldn’t become one of the most dominant players in WNBA history.

What do you think about Angel Reese? Is she a future Hall of Fame? Is her rebounding ability something that will allow her to develop into an all around player? Let us know in comments below….