Angel Reese made history with her performance against the Los Angeles Sparks, grabbing 26 rebounds to help secure Atlanta’s 78-71 victory. This achievement broke the WNBA single-game rebounding record, previously held by Chamique Holdsclaw with 24 rebounds since 2003. On the same night, Reese surpassed A’ja Wilson for the most rebounds accumulated in a WNBA season.
Despite the impressive milestone, Reese’s actions during the final 20 seconds of the game sparked controversy. With Atlanta leading 76-69, Reese had nine points to her name. Instead of focusing on defense during a Sparks possession, she waited in the frontcourt. The ball ended up with Dream’s Jordin Canada, who passed it the length of the court to a wide-open Reese. Rather than running out the clock, Reese opted for an uncontested layup, increasing her point total to 11 and achieving her 27th double-double of the season.
This choice led to questions about stat-padding, as the added points did not impact the game’s outcome. Reese had multiple opportunities to increase her score earlier in the game, shooting 4-for-14 from the field, with ten missed shots within five feet of the basket.
Beyond the rebounds, Reese’s final points did not serve to surpass any other records besides her own double-double record. She pursued scoring opportunities aggressively, undeterred by Sparks’ defender Cameron Brink, who blocked several of her attempts.
While Reese is close to breaking Alyssa Thomas’ single-season double-double record, critics question the methods used to achieve her current standing. This isn’t the first instance where Reese appeared to prioritize personal achievements at the tail end of a game. Similar behavior was reported in 2024 while playing for the Chicago Sky, where Reese sought an extra point during a nearly concluded match, extending her double-double streak to 14 games.
Following her record-breaking performance, Reese responded to a reporter’s misspeak during a postgame conference. The reporter mistakenly referred to her setting a ‘NBA record,’ to which Reese boastfully replied, ‘No, I don’t cuz I be setting NBA records, too.’ The response was considered arrogant in light of the layup and the reporter’s mistake.
Her actions have sparked a debate about the balance between individual records and teamwork. Despite the merits of her new record, the manner in which Reese achieved some stats leaves room for public scrutiny.