Angel Reese’s Record Night Raises Questions

Angel Reese made history in Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. She recorded 26 rebounds in Atlanta’s 78-71 win, surpassing Chamique Holdsclaw’s WNBA single-game record of 24 rebounds set in 2003. Her performance also pushed her past A’ja Wilson for the most rebounds in a WNBA season.

Grabbing 26 rebounds is undoubtedly a formidable achievement. However, questions arose about Reese’s actions in the last seconds of the game. Atlanta led 76-69 with only 20 seconds remaining. Reese had nine points at this stage, and after a missed possession by the Sparks, Dream guard Jordin Canada got the rebound.

Rather than playing defense, Reese positioned herself in the frontcourt. Canada launched the ball across the court to an unguarded Reese with 15 seconds on the clock. Instead of running down the clock, Reese scored an uncontested layup, bringing her total to 11 points for the night and marking her 27th double-double of the season. While Atlanta didn’t need those points, Reese seemed to prioritize achieving her personal numbers.

Efforts and Missed Opportunities

Reese had plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the game. She went 4-for-14 from the field, and before the final layup, she was 3-for-13. Of the ten missed shots, seven were layups and Sparks forward Cameron Brink blocked four of these attempts.

Los Angeles, with a current record of 13-24, only had Brink as a legitimate rim-protector during this game. Despite repeated attempts, Reese was consistently stopped until her final uncontested layup when the game’s outcome was no longer in doubt.

History of Stat Padding

This isn’t the first time Reese’s pursuit of records raised eyebrows. While playing for Chicago in 2024, she was a point short of a double-double in a game against Atlanta. Even after struggling to score in the final minutes, she managed a layup with 25 seconds on the clock to give Chicago a lead. A subsequent pass from her teammate allowed her to draw a foul and make the necessary free throws to continue her double-double streak.

The situation with Atlanta echoed previous instances, as Reese ensured her teammates helped her achieve personal milestones, regardless of the current state of the game.

Postgame Comments

The controversy continued postgame. When confronted with a reporter’s slip-up calling her achievement an ‘NBA record,’ Reese replied, ‘No, I don’t cuz I be setting NBA records, too.’ Despite the obvious mistake, Reese’s response seemed less like a joke and more like an attempt to elevate her perception.

Rather than focusing on her team’s success, Reese’s comments, combined with the end-game layup, cast a shadow over her genuine accomplishments. Ultimately, Reese secured two significant WNBA records but raised discussions about her motivations and methods along the way.