Angel Reese was back, but the Chicago Sky remained just as bad. After missing three of the team’s last four games, the two-time All-Star forward returned to the court against the Washington Mystics. Despite that boost, the Sky continued their losing run as they were battered by a young Washington Mystics, conceding 100+ points for the second time this season. 

On an individual level, Reese was as commanding as ever on her return, scoring  22 points on 6-for-16 shooting, including making 10 of her 11 free throw attempts. Reese was business as usual on the boards, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, and stealing, including 2 blocks. However, that performance was far from perfect, as many of her lowlights went viral on social media. 

The premier ‘mebounder’ received the ball on the edge of the three-point line, and it was a 2v1 to get an easy basket. Reese dribbled to the rim and went for a layup, which bounced off the bottom of the backboard. Rookie Sonia Citron cleaned up for the Mystics and started a counterattack while Reese recovered. It was undoubtedly one of the embarrassing moments for Reese. She has been prone to such moments throughout the season, as earlier in the season, she missed five consecutive layups without passing against the Liberty. And the internet hasn’t spared her, as the fans are piling on the mockery of Reese once again. 

Fans Mock Angel Reese for Missing Uncontested Layup

Angel Reese is pretty outspoken and bold when it comes to celebrating her wins. Last year, she claimed that many people are watching the WNBA because of her saying, “I’ll look back in 20 years and be like, ‘yeah, the reason why [we’re] watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person’. It’s because of me, too, and I want y’all to realize that.” Then she claimed that the Chicago Sky was the best young core in the league. These are among a few bold statements from Reese, so when she slips up, the community is quick to mock her.

One fan caught Angel Reese’s reaction to a missed shot, writing, “Lol, why she begging for a foul?” Reese glanced toward the referee and made gestures, clearly pleading for a call that never came. Instead of owning the miss and hustling back on defense, she let the moment spiral, making the embarrassment even worse. This highlights the problem with her constant protests; it’s no surprise she already has seven technical fouls this season, just one shy of suspension. Every time she flares up, the legitimate fouls lose their weight, leaving referees’ calls powerless against her habit of arguing.

Another one mocked the WNBA players’ demand for a better way by writing, “And they want more money lol.” The implication is that the skill level in the league doesn’t match the demands of the players. However, there are many embarrassing moments in the NBA, too. Russel Westbrook missed a wide-open lay-up in April and then fouled on the three-point line to effectively sell the game. It shows that even the best are bound to mess up, but that doesn’t negate all the good work they have been doing. 

Another fan mocked her game writing, “Some say she’s the best. They don’t watch her play.” The way Angel Reese plays can be ugly, but the numbers don’t lie. She is the best rebounder in the league on both ends of the court. Her scoring has improved as she is averaging 14.1 points per game this year. Her assist numbers have almost doubled, averaging 3.9 assists per game. She is becoming an all-around player. She is not yet perfect and is described as a “C-Tier” player by experts such as Candace Parker, but is moving towards being a better player, which is all we can expect from a sophomore.  

Another commented on her technique writing, “How are her layup fundamentals so shockingly poor. This is middle school stuff.” That is the crux of an argument against Reese, right from her LSU days. Reese often launches layups off her palm rather than her fingertips, leading to a lack of control and touch. This bad habit means her attempts have less spin and finesse, causing the ball to hit the rim or backboard hard and bounce out instead of softly dropping in. It is something pointed out by many experts. While her field goal percentage has improved to 44.5%, she regularly has stretches where she misses open shots like these, and it comes down to the technique. 

Angel Reese has consistently shown resilience amidst trolling, notably through her confident handling of the “Mebounds” incident, demonstrating that such criticism does not shake her focus. She thoughtfully accepts constructive feedback while filtering out baseless negativity. Although her pay recently became a topic of discussion again due to a circulating fake quote, improving her shooting technique remains essential for long-term success, as opponents will eventually adjust defensively to limit her scoring. While she continues to be a dominant rebounder, developing more effective scoring will be vital for her growth moving forward.