Angel Reese began her basketball journey with the Chicago Sky, but a recent trade brought her to the Atlanta Dream in a surprising offseason move. Her performance over the initial games with her new team has been quite varied.
Debut Game Against the Minnesota Lynx
In her first game for the Dream against the Minnesota Lynx, Reese’s performance was inconsistent. She scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting and secured 14 rebounds. However, she also recorded five turnovers and five personal fouls. This game seemed to embody her experience in the WNBA thus far.
Improvement in the Second Game
Reese showed some progress in her second game. She hit 4 of 8 shots and grabbed 16 rebounds, contributing to a 77-72 victory over the Dallas Wings. Her debut at the State Farm Arena had a full house, with Atlanta Dream fans eager to see her play on home ground.
Angel Reese celebrating a three-point shot is captured during the second half against the Dallas Wings, an image by Stacy Revere/Getty Images.
Mixed Home Debut
Angel Reese’s home debut was highly anticipated. She greeted fans in a striking leather outfit with ‘Catwoman energy’. In a pregame interview, she acknowledged the talent of her opponent A’ja Wilson, while expressing confidence in her own abilities.
Angel Reese stated, “She’s obviously a great player…but I know I’m a great player too.”
However, Reese faced challenges during the game. She made only 1 of 8 field-goal attempts and missed her single three-point try. She had as many turnovers as rebounds, with eight each. Additionally, misfortune struck with a lost shoe during a layup attempt.
Coach’s Strategic Decision
In the game against the Las Vegas Aces, Reese’s struggles continued, impacting her +/- rating negatively at -13. The team’s cumulative performance with Reese on the court has resulted in being outscored by 15 points. With the team trailing by double digits, Coach Karl Smesko decided to bench Reese, leading to a near-comeback that fell short with a final score of 85-84.
Imagery of Angel Reese leaving the game is provided courtesy of Brett Davis/Imagn Images from the game against the Las Vegas Aces.
Overall Performance
Across her first three games with Atlanta, Reese has shot 9-27 and 0-2 from beyond the arc. Her stats also include 16 turnovers and 11 fouls, with a -15 +/- rating. On the positive side, she has collected 38 rebounds, blocked five shots, and proved efficient from the free throw line, making 14 of 18 attempts.
The team remains home for a rematch against the Dallas Wings at Gateway Center Arena on Friday night.
Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.
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