If you had to pick one national team player to lead Team USA in field-goal percentage before the World Cup, it probably wouldn’t have been Angel Reese. Reese shot 39.1% from the field in her first season, 45.8% last year, and 43.7% this season. While she had been on a tear with the Atlanta Dream going into the World Cup, she has not generally been one of the most efficient scorers in the W.
Nevertheless, Reese put together a very efficient World Cup. She led all Team USA players in field-goal percentage, shooting 59.1% from the field in 15 minutes per game over six contests. She did take a lot fewer shots than many other players, but that should not detract from how impactful she was.
Reese only played nine minutes in the gold medal game against France, but she consistently impacted games in relatively limited minutes all tournament long by rebounding and defending at a high level and making the most of any shots she got in the flow of the offense. In the gold medal game, for example, she forced a late second-quarter turnover from Pauline Astier that led to a Caitlin Clark 3-pointer on the other end and swung the game’s momentum in the USA’s favor. It was a great first World Cup and bodes well for Reese’s future with USA Basketball.
Hopefully, Reese will be just as effective in the playoffs
Reese’s first World Cup will be followed by another big career first almost immediately. The Dream already clinched a playoff spot, and Reese will make her WNBA postseason debut after two disappointing seasons with the Chicago Sky.
With Brionna Jones still out, Reese will have to carry a much bigger load with the Dream than she did with Team USA. Nevertheless, playing high-pressure minutes with the national team should have her in the right mindset for the playoffs. Hopefully, mindset won’t be the only thing that carries over to the WNBA.
Atlanta needs Reese to be an impactful defender and efficient scorer. They are most likely to finish the regular season in the 4-5 matchup with the Indiana Fever. That means they will get a chance to avenge last year’s early first-round defeat, but it will be a tough series with lots of eyes on it. If Reese cannot score efficiently around the rim in addition to her rebounding and defense, the Dream might find themselves asking too much of Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada.
Reese spent two seasons wishing for a better team and putting pressure on the Sky to build a playoff team around her and Kamilla Cardoso. This is her chance to prove that she is ready for the big stage in the WNBA.
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