Fallen Angel: Teams Will Regret Passing on Angel Reese
Part Two of my WNBA draft review will cover Angel Reese, who went seventh overall to the Chicago Sky. Of course, going seventh overall is great, it’s a Top 10 pick, but she’s someone I viewed as a Top Three prospect, so far as I’m concerned, the Sky got a steal to get her at No. 7.
This is no slight at all on the women who were picks 2–6, although some would argue Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, and Aaliyah Edwards, I’m sticking to my guns. I don’t think these women are better prospects than Reese.
Aside from Chicago who picked both Cardoso and Reese (and obviously Indiana) I think teams will regret passing on Angel Reese.
Offensively, she’s like a gazelle with an engine when she attacks the basket, and she’s nearly unstoppable in the low post. Only Brink rivals her as a rebounder. If she develops at least a mid-range shot, she’s going to be even more of a nightmare.
Where she stands out to me in particular is her defensive versatility. She can guard multiple positions, and I’ve seen her switch out and guard multiple players in a single possession. While Brink is a better shot blocker, Angel is very good at protecting the rim as well.
Going back to the jump shot momentarily, that can be coached. There are coaches out there that are getting paid specifically to help players with their shot, but there are some things that can’t be coached, and her defensive versatility and effort are examples of those.
Personally, I think the reason her stock dropped was because of her image, which particularly started with the “infamous” back-and-forth she had with Caitlin Clark in the 2023 National Championship game, which started a media firestorm, and I have no idea why. To me, it was much ado about nothing. Caitlin was engaged in the trash talking and gesturing as well, but nobody gave her flack about it.
Players engage in this all the time, so why are people tripping on her when she does it? Talk about selective outrage. Personally, it’s something I’d rather not engage in, but as long as it’s not detrimental to the team, and they can take what they dish out, let players be. I don’t see where she’s hurting anybody or went to the extreme such as flipping someone off.
On a side note, there was a Pander bear who crowned her as (probably) the best athlete to play for LSU. Now, we’re talking about the likes of Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, Jamal Adams, Patrick Peterson, Derek Stingley Jr., and many others who went to that school, and she’s a better athlete than them? GTFOH.
As a matter of fact, the person who made that statement went to the same school, and I don’t think she’s a better athlete than he was when came out of LSU. That’s no diss towards Reese, but that dude was seriously pandering and attention whoring.
Getting back to the topic, there has been talk about her having issues with (LSU head coach) Kim Mulkey occasionally, and that can be a red flag with some teams because they will wonder whether or not this player is coachable.
If this was part of the reason some teams shyed away, that’s more understandable versus the aforementioned trash talk and her fiery personality.
Although some view her as risky, with her talent, upside/ceiling, I think she’s worth the roll of the dice, and I think the teams who passed her up will find out.
