Angel Reese (Photo via @MarcusD3 Twitter)Social media is ripping on Chicago Sky star rookie Angel Reese for padding her stats in the waning seconds of Wednesday’s victory over the Atlanta Dream.
Angel Reese extended her WNBA record of consecutive games with a double-double to 14, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds. She led the Sky to a 78-69 victory that improved their record to 9-12.
When a basketball game is essentially out of reach, teams usually just dribble out the clock until the final buzzer. The Dream were seemingly content doing this, trailing 76-69 in the waning seconds.
But Reese, who was at nine points, decided to try and keep the streak going. She drew a foul that sent her to the free-throw line, and Reese made both of them to extend her special streak:
Angel Reese fouled with 6.4 left in game needing one point to continue the WNBA record of her 14th consecutive double-double. Steps to the line makes both. Streak continues and Sky win. pic.twitter.com/gJ7Kh6pNjQ
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) July 10, 2024
One can understand Reese’s wish to keep the streak going, but countless fans on X/Twitter weren’t happy with the so-called “stat padding.” Here are some of the rather cold reactions to Reese’s move:
This is why people don’t like Angel Reese. This level of stat padding—going full post while your team is up seven with 6.4 seconds remaining—is a joke. pic.twitter.com/wl65OwiAUw
— All Things Chicago Sports (@things_sox) July 10, 2024
Angel Reese shameless stat padding to get a double-double 😭 pic.twitter.com/RBWx0KzRR7
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) July 10, 2024
Angel Reese man. 🤣🤦🏻♂️
That was as pathetic as it gets.Begging for the ball in dribble out, game sealing territory to stat pad her “double-double” streak. 😖
— |GC| (@_gc24) July 10, 2024
Angel Reese fans talk about Caitlin Clark stat padding but won't say a word about this. This is a disgrace to competition. https://t.co/Q2ZfnBE33A
— Matt Bradley (@bricksquadmvp) July 10, 2024
“Goes to last-seconds lengths” is another word for stat padding. I see what you did to #angelreese there ESPN. Screaming for the ball with 8 seconds left like they are the ones down by 7 is stat padding. Not a ROTY move. #CaitlinClark would never.😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/NehebrFjb3
— Juan Tamad (@onetamad2016) July 10, 2024
*Up 7 with 13 seconds left
*Other team is letting them dribble out the gameHere comes Angel Reese begging for the ball. Gets the ball, flops in grand fashion, makes a free throw to extend the streak.
It’s laughable at this point. Stat padding at its finest. The female Luka pic.twitter.com/EfGMCQ4JNL
— MooseMuse (@MooseMuse256) July 10, 2024
I'm an Angel Reese fan but this is blatant stat padding. If I'm the coach I would be upset at players chasing individual "records". Under 20 seconds left. We are fans but we have to call this out. pic.twitter.com/rEBSzvU6oR
— I Sleep Very Well (@VideoGame2345) July 10, 2024
It’s safe to say that Angel Reese isn’t at all worried about the criticism she has received over the last 24 hours. Remember, she said she was fine taking the “bad guy role” when talking about Caitlin Clark just last month:
Angel Reese believes the physical play that Caitlin Clark has experienced isn't new to the WNBA
Just more 👀
"The reason why we're watching women's basketball is not just because of 1 person. It's because of me, too. I want y'all to realize that"
More: https://t.co/3fNUxipTTD pic.twitter.com/1YbGG4mWuL
— GNSportsTV (@GNSportsTV) June 3, 2024
The Sky selected Reese seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The LSU legend and 2023 national champion has certainly lived up to expectations in the early going, with averages of 14.1 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Angel Reese & Chicago Sky Are On A Roll
The playoffs felt like a longshot for Chicago after they lost nine of their first 13 games, but they’ve turned a corner over the last three weeks.
Chicago has now won five of their last eight games, and three of their last four overall. Now just three games below .500, the Sky hold the seventh seed and are just 2.5 behind the Phoenix Mercury for the No. 6 seed.
