Angel Reese has a few things to work on as she gets comfortable in her first role in the WNBA, according to Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
Speaking with the media on May 10, Weatherspoon was asked about Reese’s evolving footwork with the “pick and pop” play.
“It’s a lot that we’re developing,” Weatherspoon told the media. “[Reese] knows as well as anyone else some of the things that she wants to work on in this league and to be better at. So we’re working on those things as we move forward.
“And for her to just be comfortable in it,” Weatherspoon added. “Just for her to be comfortable in a little bit of something that’s different.”
The 2019 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee added, “But the one thing about Angel, she’s very very confident. She’s very confident in everything that she needs to do to be better.”
Weatherspoon’s comments are in line with a May 7 X post from Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune showing Weatherspoon working with Reese and two other Sky forwards on their jump shots before Chicago’s preseason home game against the New York Liberty.
Reese’s Shooting Woes
Reese’s lack of scoring outside of the paint has been a common criticism for the “Chi Barbie.”
ESPN reported on April 3 that an anonymous WNBA general manager said of Reese, “I wish she had more range on her shot. I think that’s something that she needs to add.”
“I’d like to see her evolve her game outside of 10 feet,” another source told ESPN. “If she’s going to play the four at the pro level, I think she’s got to work on her free throws and her outside shot.”
Reese is excellent at drawing fouls. Her 266 free throw attempts during her last season at LSU was second-best in the NCAA.
She was also third in the NCAA in free throws made, with 193. The only two players with more makes than her were Juju Watkins (241) and Caitlin Clark (227).
Reese’s free throw percentage remained between 67.1% and 72.6% throughout her NCAA career.
While there’s room for improvement there, the fact that her free throw percentage improved during each season shows that she’s been working on that aspect of her game.
Reese alluded to this during her May 8 media day for the Chicago Sky.
When asked if the outside shot is something she’s trying to add to her game, Reese said, “I continue to grow my game and show my game. I took a jump shot the first game.”
“Of course, I’m not settling to be who I am right now,” she added. “I want to always grow my game. And I work out with coach [Weatherspoon] every single day.”
Weatherspoon Allowed Reese to Miss Practice for Met Gala
Weatherspoon gave Reese permission to miss a portion of the Sky’s May 6 practice in order to attend the 2024 Met Gala.
“There were things that were in place for them that we thought were very important for them to be part of,” Weatherspoon told Poe on May 6 about Reese and fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso leaving practice early that day for pre-planned events. “That’s something they earned and that’s never something we’d ever take away.”
Chicago Sky Coach on Angel Reese: ‘A Lot That We’re Developing’