Are Angel Reese’s Rebound Stats So High Because She Keeps Catching Her Own Missed Shots?

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Angel Reese made WNBA history over the weekend of June 30, strengthening her case for Rookie of the Year.

In the Chicago Sky’s 70-62 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, the 22-year-old former LSU Tiger set a WNBA record by posting her 10th straight double-double (10 points and 16 rebounds against the Lynx)

This isn’t just a rookie record, either — Reese surpassed the nine-straight double-doubles posted by WNBA legend Candace Parker in 2015, which was when she was already about halfway into her Hall of Fame career.

“She’s gonna continue to do what she does, that’s who she is, she’s always gonna come out and play hard and confident and give you everything that she has. She’s the hardest person on herself, so proud of what she’s doing and what she’ll continue to do,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said of Reese following the game.

One aspect of Reese’s impressive stats has some fans feeling a bit dubious, however, and those are her offensive rebound numbers, which some believe are being elevated by her rebounding her own misses.

“4 of Angel Reese’s 5 offensive rebounds were off her own misses. She shot the ball 4 times after her OREB and made just 1,” one WNBA watcher pointed out during Sunday’s Sky vs. Lynx game.

Some have even gone as far as photoshopping a play-by-play to make it look as if Reese was “just playing hot potato off the backboard.”

Plus, even if all rebounds on a player’s own missed shot were removed, Reese would still lead the league in offensive rebounds

Despite being the 7th overall pick in this year’s draft, Reese is the only player in contention for the Rookie of the Year award alongside #1 overall pick Caitlin Clark, who is making statistical WNBA history in her own right.