While Angel Reese makes history in the WNBA with her double-double achievements, a cloud of discontent surrounds her methods. Fans have criticized the Chicago Sky rookie for prioritizing her personal statistics over the needs of her team. Amidst these concerns, Gilbert Arenas has recently spoken out in her defense, publicly justifying her actions.
On the Club 520 podcast, Arenas initially discussed the challenges of maintaining records in basketball. He then defended Reese’s seemingly self-serving and questionable actions by putting himself in the WNBA star’s shoes. Expressing his stance, the three-time All-Star remarked:
“When you have a record and you’re trying to extend it, there will be situations where it could become a rebound or a miss. If you miss, just keep going… If I have 20 double-doubles and I need one more with three seconds left, I don’t care what we’re doing; I need that basket. I’ll get that basket. You can fight me later. I know that streak is ongoing.”
Despite the ambiguity behind his explanation, it’s hard to argue with this perspective. After all, Reese’s impressive averages of 13.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.5 steals have been key to Chicago Sky’s 10 victories this season. Thus, her focus on personal milestones seems reasonable given her impact on the team’s success.
Moreover, as Arenas implied, Reese’s rising prominence has made her a target. This was evident in a recent home game against the New York Liberty. With just 17 seconds left in the game, Reese needed two more points to extend her double-double streak. However, as soon as she received the ball, four opposing players surrounded her to thwart her plans. This situation understandably frustrated Reese, as her WNBA record of 16 consecutive double-doubles came to an end that night. Additionally, the Sky lost the game 67-81 to a home crowd, adding to her disappointment.
Nevertheless, Reese quickly regained her form in the subsequent victory, a 93-85 win over the Las Vegas Aces. Scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, the Sky rookie secured another double-double to meet her goal. The only remaining question is how long she can maintain this form to contend for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award against her rival, Caitlin Clark.
