Angel Reese has quickly established herself as one of the most electrifying young talents in the WNBA, joining Caitlin Clark as a standout rookie. While Reese has already made a compelling case as the Chicago Sky’s most impactful rookie—and arguably one of the best in the league—there’s still room for growth in her game.
Reese has been nothing short of a powerhouse on the court, particularly in her ability to dominate the boards. Her rebounding prowess has drawn comparisons to Shaquille O’Neal, with opponents resorting to quadruple-teaming her in an effort to prevent her from racking up double-doubles. Despite being just a rookie, Reese’s potential is sky-high.
Angel Reese with 4 offensive rebounds on 1 possession is INSANE pic.twitter.com/mA5bNxF0mD
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 25, 2024
However, one area where Reese has room for improvement is her finishing ability at the basket. This has become a glaring issue in her game. Currently, she’s shooting just 46.1 percent on shots at the rim, according to PBPStats, which is the lowest percentage among all WNBA players with at least 40 attempts in that zone. This figure is significantly below the league average of 54.8 percent this season.
To put it in perspective, out of 171 players who have attempted a similar number of shots at the rim since 2009, only four have a lower combined field goal percentage than Reese.
Stephen Noh of Sporting News offers further insight:
“Reese’s inability to finish at the rim is even more concerning when you consider that she takes more layups than anyone else in the league, with a whopping 274 field goal attempts. If she could improve even slightly in this area, the Sky’s offense—currently ranked 9th—would likely see significant gains.”
Adding to the challenge is Reese’s struggle with her jump shot. She’s hitting only 31 percent of her midrange shots and just 18 percent of her 3-point attempts this season, with some particularly wayward misses from deep.
The silver lining is Reese’s exceptional ability to grab her own misses, leading the WNBA with 35 offensive rebounds off her own shots. This skill has helped her mitigate some of the damage caused by her missed layups, creating second-chance opportunities and maintaining her impact on the game.
It’s worth noting that Reese’s struggles with finishing at the rim aren’t new. During her final season at LSU, she shot 53.6 percent at the rim, which ranked in the 33rd percentile among players at her position. This was the lowest percentage among the top 15 players with the most attempts in that zone.
In college, Reese led women’s basketball in field goal attempts on putbacks, using offensive rebounds to bolster her scoring. This trend has continued in the WNBA, but to fully realize her potential, Reese needs to improve her efficiency around the basket.
Fortunately, Reese has time on her side. At just the beginning of what promises to be a long WNBA career, she has ample opportunity to refine her finishing ability and expand her offensive game. While her layup struggles are a concern, they’re not insurmountable, and with her work ethic and talent, she’s well-positioned to address these weaknesses and continue her rise as one of the league’s brightest stars.
