5 reasons why veteran teams shouldn't wish to face Angel Reese in WNBA Playoffs

Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky are in a challenging position after their loss to the Connecticut Sun on Friday, which dropped their record to 11-16. Despite this, they remain in eighth place, the last playoff spot.

Although they haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet, they received a bit of luck as the Atlanta Dream, who had won three games in a row before Friday, lost to the Phoenix Mercury. As a result, the Sky (11-16) stayed ahead of the Dream (10-17) in the standings.

The Sky have the fifth easiest remaining schedule in the league, according to Tankathon, which could work in their favor.

Nevertheless, Reese, averaging 13.6 points and 12.3 rebounds this season, could be a formidable presence in the playoffs.

Here are five reasons why veteran teams might want to avoid facing Reese in the WNBA playoffs:

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5 reasons why veteran teams shouldn't wish to face Angel Reese in WNBA Playoffs

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#1. Angel Reese has time to adjust

With the playoff race tightening, Reese and the Sky have the opportunity to refine their game. With 12 games left, Reese can find ways to score more effectively in the paint, bolstering the Sky’s offense.

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#2. The Sky has one of the easiest remaining schedules

As previously mentioned, the Sky faces one of the easiest schedules ahead. Their upcoming games include matchups against the LA Sparks, Dallas Wings and two against the Washington Mystics. They also play the Atlanta Dream and Fever, whom they are closely competing with for a playoff spot.

Reese and the Sky can leverage these games to gain momentum for the playoffs.

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#3. The Sky perform significantly better with Angel Reese

Reese’s influence on the Sky is substantial. With her on the court, the Sky’s offensive rating is 102.2, compared to 92.3 without her. Additionally, their rebounding percentage improves from 42.5 to 54.4 with her presence.

Her energy on the court may pose difficulties for older, slower players, providing the Sky with a significant advantage.

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#4. The Sky’s rebounding stats are no joke

Thanks to Angel Reese’s dominance in the paint, the Chicago Sky lead the league in rebounding percentage at 52.0%. They average 37.3 rebounds per game, including 11.5 offensive rebounds. For comparison, the Las Vegas Aces ranked last in offensive rebounds, averaging only 5.8 per game.

Rebounding is crucial in playoff basketball, and the Sky excels in securing these crucial possessions.

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#5. Angel Reese is supported by key players

The Chicago Sky is not solely reliant on Angel Reese. She is the second-highest scorer on the team. Chennedy Carter leads with 16.8 points per game, and fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso contributes significantly with 8.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Despite their inconsistency this season, the Sky have players who can explode anytime.