‘Take Notes WNBA,’ ‘What They Gon’ Say Now?’ — Basketball World Rallies Behind Angel Reese As Dream Star Leads Team USA in FG%
There were plenty of doubts around Angel Reese’s place in the Team USA roster. Her scoring was inconsistent coming into the World Cup, while her turnover issues were ever-present. Yet, Reese has taken her opportunity to prove them wrong.
As Team USA and Angel Reese continue marching towards that gold medal, the Atlanta Dream star has caught fans’ attention with an impressive metric.
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WNBA World Hails Angel Reese As She Leads Team USA in FG%
Just a few weeks ago, Reese missed an open lay-up that would have won the game for the Dream against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. They eventually lost 95-91 in overtime. That game just piled on the criticism for her finishing around the rim, a consistent topic throughout her career.
Reese is shooting 43.7% from the field this season in the WNBA. Yet, the 6-foot-4 forward has flipped the script at the 2026 World Cup in Berlin. Reese has largely come off the bench as the experienced crew has taken the starting lineup. However, that has not stopped her from making a significant impact.
Whether it’s her highlight put-back or her relentless rebounding, Reese is averaging 8.8 points and 6 rebounds per game. But the standout metric of her tournament is her field goal percentage. She is leading Team USA, shooting 63.2% from the field.
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Reese has been the motor of Team USA from the bench, aggressively attacking the rim and running the floor. Her connection with Clark has stood out to the fans and Reese herself. In addition, the WNBA world has noticed a difference in officiating that has led to the forward’s success.
“This is her game when officiated normally. Take notes @WNBA,” commented one.
“Freed us from the shackles of WNBA refs allowing clear fouls to be no calls and blocks and now look,” wrote another.
One fan claimed that playing alongside a longtime adversary in Clark has improved Reese’s overall game.
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“Clark effect playing with a real PG that can get her the ball where she can go straight up,” wrote another user.
Clark and Reese have been rivals since their college basketball days. From the iconic “you can’t see me” moment to the heated incidents that have followed, they have often been pitted against each other.
But their chemistry at the World Cup suggests they have little personal animosity. Reese is continuing to prove her doubters wrong, and fans are ready with their receipts.
“What they gone say now?” pitched in one user. “Me to the ‘why is she on the team?’ Folks,” a fan wrote with a GIF.
Reese has been at the center of criticism for her layup technique and finishing. That includes multiple ‘lowlights’ of her missing layups and grabbing ‘mebounds’. Her performance at the World Cup has given her fans some ammunition against such critics.
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“They were asking why was she picked to play,” wrote one user. Reese has shown that she could be one of the important pieces of Team USA’s next generation with the likes of Clark.
Other fans appealed to the WNBA to improve its officiating so Reese can play to her full potential there as well. “When I said her WNBA fg% was due to the refs letting her get hacked and calling it a shot I meant that,” commented a fan.
“This is what happens when she doesn’t get fouled every possession and bias refrees looking away,” wrote a fan.
MORE: ‘Underscores My Point’ – Jason Whitlock Contrasts Caitlin Clark’s ‘Constant Nagging’ in WNBA With ‘Admirable’ FIBA World Cup Conduct
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Reese is also averaging 4.8 free throws per game as compared to 4.5 in the WNBA while playing 14.2 minutes less per game. Reese has given her critics a strong response at the World Cup. However, the real test is yet to come for the Dream star.
Team USA will take on Spain in the semifinals. If they win, they will take on France or Germany in the gold medal game. With Team USA still chasing gold, Reese has an opportunity to keep changing the narrative on the biggest international stage.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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