Angel Reese’s Atlanta Dream career is off to an up-and-down start. While the team is among the playoff contenders and had a league-best 4-1 record before Wednesday’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Reese’s individual performances have been streaky. She’s averaging 12.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks.
However, Reese is committing a career-high 4.3 turnovers and shooting a measly 40.3% from the field. That is despite Reese taking 8.8 of her 10.3 shot attempts within five feet of the basket. The more glaring stat is that Reese is the only starter in the 2026 WNBA season yet to make a shot outside the five-foot range.
She has three attempts in the five to nine-foot range, one attempt in the 15-19-foot range and four attempts in the 20-24-foot range and one attempt in the 25-29-foot range. Overall, Reese is 0-for-9 when attempting shots outside.
That unwanted streak for Reese continued on Wednesday as the Dream lost 96-81. Angel Reese finished with 10 points on 3 of 8 shots. All three of her made shots came inside the restricted area, where she also missed three more attempts. Her other two attempts came from beyond the arc.
Nevertheless, Reese remained effective in other areas. She had eight rebounds and five assists with just two turnovers.
Dream coach Karl Smesko helps Angel Reese with her shooting mechanics pre-game
Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko and Angel Reese were putting in the work before Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. The USA Network broadcast showed a video of the player-coach duo at shootaround. The emphasis seemed to be on improving Reese’s shot mechanics. As Reese attempted the shots from the free-throw range, Smesko stood behind and advised her on how to release her shot.
The Dream will need Reese to start making shots beyond the five-foot range if they are to find success on offense with their two-big lineup involving Naz Hilmon, who has also struggled. Hilmon is shooting a career-low 40.6% from the field. She’s making 14.3% of her shots from beyond the arc.
The Dream are 10th in field goal, 12th in 3-point and 14th in free-throw shooting percentage this season. Their offense ranks 12th with a 104.2 rating, leading only the eighth-placed Mystics, 13th-placed Storm and 15th-placed Sun.
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