Shannon Sharpe came to the defense of Angel Reese after the Atlanta Dream pounded the Chicago Sky 82-75 on Tuesday. Reese registered a massive double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds as she seemingly came out to prove a point to her former team, the Sky. Meanwhile, there has been steady criticism in the WNBA world about her shooting form and ability to make jump shots. But Sharpe believes she brought much more to the table.
Reese, who returned to Chicago for the first time since she was traded to the Dream in the offseason, registered her 57th career double-double and was relentless on the glass. On Wednesday, Sharpe hailed her dominating presence in the paint and said:
“Angel Reese secured her 57th double-double in the return to Chicago to lead the Dream past the Sky. You knew Angel was gonna be very motivated going back to Chicago.”
Sharpe defended Reese’s shooting, saying that fans want everyone to “shoot the ball like Maya Moore.” Reese has been criticized for her shooting woes after she shot a massive airball in the game against her rival, Caitlin Clark, and the Indiana Fever. Moreover, she is shooting just 41.7% fromt he field and a career-low 15.4% from deep.
However, the analyst, who has defended Reese on several occasions against the online criticism, seemingly stated that she did not need to shoot the ball from distance, given the amount of work she does in the paint, rebounding, and giving the team second chances. Reese leads the league in rebounds per game (12.2).
Meanwhile, Sharpe also hailed the Dream, including Rhyne Howard, who is putting up career numbers, averaging 17.9 points per game. With Reese’s presence in the paint, the team has unlocked another level of confidence in shooting the ball from distance.
Angel Reese creates history with her massive paint presence
Angel Reese has had the second-most rebounds in the NBA and WNBA combined in the first 75 games. Shaquille O’Neal tops that list. This puts Reese in an elite company of hoopers, as Shaq is arguably the most dominant center in the NBA.
Hoop Central shared the update on X and wrote:
“CRAZY — Angel Reese has the 2nd most rebounds in NBA/WNBA history through 75 career games, only Shaquille O’Neal had more.”
The Dream (8-3), who have won two in a row, next face the red-hot and star-studded New York Liberty (8-4), who are on a five-game win streak, on Thursday. Reese and Co. will have to gear up for another massive game to continue the winning run.
READ MORE: Angel Reese’s Embarrassing Airball Prompts Response From Dave Portnoy
Angel Reese Deletes Post Clapping Back at Haters Over Viral Missed 3-Pointer Amid Backlash
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