Another day. Another game. Same story. The ghost of stat-padding continues to haunt the seventh overall pick, Angel Reese. Despite denying the claims multiple times about the same and even getting support from the WNBA legends like Rebecca Lobo, the Chicago Sky rookie cannot prove her innocence to the basketball fans. Even collecting most rebounds in the league’s history for single season and leaving Sylvia Fowles behind doesn’t seem to work. Trying to salvage the situation once again, the big cleared her stance. Only to find the loyalists get back at her yet another time.

In her postgame presser, Angel Reese explained her focus on rebounds. “Coming into it, I just knew my motor. Offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds is something that I know I can always do. I knew that was gonna translate right away. That’s something that a lot of players don’t wanna do. A lot of people think it is because I get my own rebounds, statistically, it’s not. A lot of people think it is because I’m the tallest on the court, I’m not the tallest on the court.”

The LSU alum has been under a lot of scrutiny recently. According to many fans, she adds to her points and rebounds by grabbing her own boards. Not to mention, her subpar efficiency from just 5 feet away from the rim has also been a concern for many Chicago fanatics. However, the Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon has previously mentioned how her relentlessness to fight for the ball and hunger to get it at any cost is what keeps her dominant in the paint. She had also talked about Reese’s knack for collecting a board.

Resonating with the coach, Angel Reese added, “Just being able to go down there and being able to bang, doing a lot of things that a lot of people don’t wanna do. Defense and rebounding win championships and I want championships at every level by just doing that. Coming into the league, before I sharpen up on my offensive thing, just being able to come in and have that on my shoulder is something that I can always do. It’s something that I knew would translate.”

Tonight, the Sky lost their sixth straight game, returning to the verge of dropping off the playoff contention to the Atlanta Dream. This was also their seventh loss since the Olympic break in eight games played. In this span, she has averaged only 12.8 points from 28 of 79 shooting (35%).

At the same time, Reese has collected 17.6 rebounds per game. Against the Minnesota Lynx tonight, she added 17 points on 6 of 16 shooting with 19 rebounds. While the rookie stretched her double-double total further, the fans are not on board with her.

Rebounds and records don’t win fans for Angel Reese

The Sky rookie has always polarized basketball fans. Since her LSU days, she has been facing criticism for one thing or another. However, none of them have stayed on-trend as much as her stat-padding accusations are. While it may be because Chicago has lost 8 of its last 10 games and just might drop off the playoff standings with another loss, the fans are not letting Angel Reese have a breather.

Some X users commented on her clarifications that she should be able to score more as a post-player. Reese mentioned how she prioritizes rebounding over offense. That is what she has been doing since she was under Kim Mulkey. Nevertheless, her 35% field goal accuracy with a losing streak of six games is definitely not an appeal to the fans.

“Quit throwing up bricks and maybe win more games”

“Why are you such a horrible shooter?”

Chicago fans have always been very much involved with their teams. Unfortunately, with all the love for winning games comes resentment of choosing potentially the wrong player. The Sky franchise made a last-minute trade to get the seventh pick in the 2024 WNBA drafts back in April, which brought Angel Reese to Teresa Weatherspoon. However, while it was a celebratory step for the Windy City, seems like they are no longer feeling the same way.

“Everyday basketball fans care about their favorite winning games, not individual stats. This is nauseating.”

A clip of Reese’s focused shot from a game against the Las Vegas Aces made rounds on the internet. The rookie can be seen fighting A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Megan Gustafson, and Chelsea Gray in the paint for the ball. She continuously missed the layup. After a lot of back and forth, the referee blew the whistle to end the play. Sharing that video, a WNBA follower commented on Angel Reese’s statement.

“Okay. “Statistically “

In another instance, Christie Sides cleared her bench and retrieved all of her starters from the floor. Reese left the floor with 5:40 on the game clock in the third quarter only to return in the fourth quarter when the Fever had clearly won. In the remaining five minutes, she scored five points against Indiana’s remaining players to tally her night’s total to 10 points and 11 rebounds. The fan was also not pleased with T-spoon’s decision to keep her rookie on the floor.

“Her coach literally kept her in the game to get her double double when all the bench players were in from their team and the fever team that’s embarrassing and pathetic”

Angel Reese has made herself known for rebounding since her time in Baton Rouge. However, the Lady Tigers won more games than lost. On the contrary, the Sky is hanging by a thread as they aspire to stay in the postseason competition. Certainly, the rookie will look to mute the noise as the clock ticks.