Angel Reese is currently in the midst of her best WNBA season to date, averaging 16.1 points and 12.4 rebounds a night with a career-high in steals at 1.8 a game.
She’s been handed quite a bit of praise for the way she’s played for the Dream this year, with Lexie Brown breaking down why she’s been as solid as she has, especially after her record-breaking performance.
Unfortunately for Reese, several detractors online simply weren’t having it.
Angel Reese Praise Draws Backlash From Detractors
Reese, after dropping 15 points and 11 rebounds in a 89-81 win against the Lynx on Sunday, notched her 29th double-double of the season. This is the most double-doubles in a single season by a WNBA player in league history, passing Alyssa Thomas’s previous record of 28 in 2023.
NBATV aired a segment discussing Reese’s new record, with Brown speaking about it and the reasons behind her productivity. She said,
“I chalk it all up to an environment. I think people underrate who important it is for people to feel comfortable in an environment, feel valued in an environment and that’s exactly what she’s gotten in Atlanta.”
A record-setting season for Angel Reese 👏@StephanieReady and @LexieBrown discuss Reese’s record-breaking 29th double-double and break down how Atlanta’s environment has helped her take another step this season! pic.twitter.com/bbFGGoFYvm
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 31, 2026
“They value the way she plays, allow her to grow, they allow her to make mistakes, and they allow her to lead. And I think that’s very important for her. She’s taken a lot of steps this season and it’s been nice to see and I’m really happy for her.”
The WNBA world wasn’t as kind to Reese as the former Seattle Storm hooper was.
“They push Angel Reese so much it’s sickening,” wrote one sports commentator on X.
They push Angel Reese so much it’s sickening https://t.co/azkW2uMGqW
— Jason (@letstalkksports) August 31, 2026
Another very bluntly said, “Record based cherry picking and inability to make shot to get own rebounds. Embarrassing record for this clown.”
Record based cherry picking and inability to make shot to get own rebounds. Embarrassing record for this clown
— Az (@packers1969) August 31, 2026
This is in reference to Reese’s continued struggles to find her own shot when asked to take over a game, as most of her play revolves around the basket, as she shoots 18% from beyond the arc.
One detractor quoted Brown as saying, “She’s taken a lot of steps this season,” and used it to poke fun at Reese for occasionally traveling with the ball, saying, “Yes, and it’s never called.”
“Most mebounds in basketball history,” said another X user. The Term ‘Mebounds’ went viral when the WNBA world pointed out that a bulk of Reese’s rebounds are her own misses that she then tries to put back into the basket.
There’s no doubt that Reese is having a solid year by her standards, with the Dream holding a 26-14 record and currently fourth in their standings.
While she did have a few lackluster showings, such as a 7-point, 1/12 FG effort vs the Mystics or dropping 8 points against the Sun on 3/13 FG, she has picked it up recently.
Aside from a loss to the Fire on August 28, Reese has had a positive net rating in every single game since August 10th, when she had 20 points and 14 rebounds in a win against the Tempo.
Reese has found a way to tune out any outside noise, as she said in 2024, “People do genuinely love me and I think of the positive before I think of the negative. It took me a little minute to get to where I am right now.”
It’s clear that she’s fairly headstrong and used to the consistent ‘hate-train’ that comes her way, and that comments from users online mean little to her.
