Angel Reese’s Viral Misses Steal Spotlight as Liberty’s Record 19 Threes Crush Sky

The Chicago Sky got a harsh reality check Thursday night, crumbling 99-74 against the New York Liberty, the WNBA’s reigning champs. But the spotlight wasn’t on the scoreboard—it was on Angel Reese, whose early-game struggles became the night’s viral moment.

Just three minutes in, Reese turned hustle into a highlight reel for all the wrong reasons. In a frantic 19-second span, she grabbed five offensive rebounds—not because of defensive brilliance, but because she missed four shots right under the basket, two of which were swatted away. She finally passed to Kia Nurse, who bricked a three-pointer, leaving Reese empty-handed on the boards. Social media erupted, with fans joking she was “hoarding rebounds like a squirrel before winter.”

Reese, the former LSU star who set the WNBA single-season rebound record last year, finished the night 0-for-8 from the field, scoring a mere two points while snagging 12 rebounds—eight offensive. It was her first game without a made basket since 2021, snapping a 136-game streak across college and pro play. Critics pounced, pointing out her rebound stats often get a boost from her own missed layups.

Meanwhile, the Liberty were raining fire, setting a WNBA record with 19 three-pointers in a regular-season game. Eight of their nine shooters hit from deep, with Natasha Cloud and Kennedy Burke each sinking four. New York shot a blistering 55% from the field and went 16-for-17 from the free-throw line, flexing their championship pedigree.

Reese’s hustle is undeniable—she became the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 450 points and rebounds this season—but nights like these fuel the doubters. The Sky head to Los Angeles Sunday, while the Liberty face Caitlin Clark’s Indiana squad Saturday. If Reese wants to silence the critics, she’ll need to convert those hustle plays into points.