Angel Reese's Shot Chart Deep Dive: 5 Shocking Truths About Her Rookie Season Offensive Efficiency

Angel Reese's explosive start to her WNBA career with the Chicago Sky has been defined by historic rebounding and relentless energy, but a deep dive into her shooting chart for the 2024 season tells a more complex story about her offensive game. As of the end of her rookie campaign, the data reveals a clear blueprint of her strengths and a critical roadmap for her future development as an elite WNBA player. This analysis, based on the latest 2024 WNBA statistics, breaks down the surprising efficiency—and inefficiency—of the "Bayou Barbie's" shot selection.

The conversation around Angel Reese's game often centers on her league-leading rebounding and tenacious defense, but her ability to convert scoring opportunities will ultimately determine her ceiling. Her rookie year shooting performance provides a stark contrast between her dominance in the paint and her struggles with the jump shot, making the Angel Reese shooting chart one of the most intriguing statistical profiles in the league today. Understanding these numbers is crucial for appreciating her current impact and predicting her evolution.

Angel Reese: Complete Player Biography and Profile

Angel Reese, a professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky, quickly became one of the most recognizable and impactful athletes in the WNBA. Her career is marked by collegiate success and a highly-anticipated transition to the professional ranks.

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• Full Name: Angel C. Reese
• Born: May 6, 2002
• Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
• High School: St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
• College Career: Maryland Terrapins (2020–2022), LSU Tigers (2022–2024)
• College Accolades: 2023 NCAA Champion (LSU), 2023 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Consensus First-Team All-American (2023), SEC Player of the Year (2023), Two-time All-SEC First Team.
• WNBA Draft: 2024 WNBA Draft, 1st Round, 7th Overall Pick by the Chicago Sky.
• WNBA Team: Chicago Sky
• Position: Forward
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
• WNBA Accolades (Rookie Season): WNBA All-Rookie Team (2024), WNBA Rebounding Champion (2024).
• Nicknames: "Bayou Barbie," "Chi-Town Barbie"

1. The Shocking Field Goal Percentage and Paint Dependency

The most immediate takeaway from Angel Reese's 2024 rookie statistics is her overall field goal percentage. Despite being a dominant frontcourt player, Reese shot just 39.1% from the field (164/419) over 34 games. This number is notably low for a player who takes the vast majority of her shots close to the basket. For context, the league average for frontcourt players typically hovers closer to 48%, with elite players surpassing that mark.

This low percentage is directly tied to her shot selection profile. The data shows that approximately 85% of her total shot attempts came from within eight feet of the basket. This highlights her primary role as a relentless offensive rebounder and a finisher on dump-offs and put-backs. However, the efficiency within that small radius needs improvement. While she is a high-volume shooter in the paint, her conversion rate is not yet at an elite level, which drags down her overall offensive efficiency and True Shooting Percentage (TS%).

The Mid-Range Malaise: 3-to-10 Foot Struggles

The shooting chart reveals a specific area of struggle: the short mid-range, defined as the 3-to-10 foot zone. In her rookie season, Reese was one of the least efficient players in the WNBA from this range, converting shots at a rate around 25%. This is a critical area for a power forward, as it includes floaters, short jumpers, and contested layups that aren't right at the rim. Her low percentage here suggests a lack of touch or a need to refine her technique when she is forced to shoot over defenders without getting all the way to the basket. Improving her mid-range game is the single most important step for her to elevate her scoring average and reduce the number of wasted possessions for the Chicago Sky.

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2. The Non-Existent Three-Point Threat

Angel Reese’s shooting chart is essentially empty beyond the arc. In her 2024 WNBA rookie season, she attempted only 16 three-pointers and made just three, resulting in a three-point percentage of 18.8%. Across her entire career (including college), her 3-point percentage sits at a similar 18.4% (7/38). This isn't a surprise, as she was never known for outside shooting in college, but it is a major factor in how defenses guard her.

The lack of a perimeter game allows opposing teams to completely sag off her when she is outside the paint, effectively clogging the lane for her teammates. This tactical advantage for the defense is a significant constraint on the Chicago Sky's overall floor spacing. While not every frontcourt player needs to be a sharpshooter, developing a reliable corner three or a consistent 15-foot jumper would dramatically change the geometry of the court and unlock more driving lanes for the Sky's guards.

3. The Free Throw Line as a Scoring Lifeline

Given her high volume of shots in the paint and her aggressive play style, Angel Reese draws a significant number of fouls. The free-throw line, therefore, becomes a crucial component of her scoring efficiency. Her ability to get to the line is a major asset that compensates, to some extent, for her low field goal percentage. This is a common trait among high-motor, physical players.

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By constantly attacking the basket and generating contact, she converts low-efficiency field goal attempts into high-efficiency free throw attempts. This is a key reason why her overall point production remains strong despite her shooting struggles. Her relentless pursuit of the ball and her knack for initiating contact are the foundation of her "double-double machine" reputation. Her free throw rate is a positive indicator that demonstrates her value as a physical force on offense, maximizing possessions where her field goal percentage is low.

4. The High-Volume, High-Impact Rebounding Connection

It is impossible to analyze Angel Reese's shooting chart without connecting it to her historic rebounding numbers. Reese led the WNBA in rebounding during her rookie season, averaging a league-leading 13.1 rebounds per game. Many of her field goal attempts are generated directly from her offensive rebounding prowess—the "self-rebound" put-back. This unique skill set means that a portion of her low-percentage shots are essentially "bonus" possessions that she creates entirely on her own.

These second-chance points, while sometimes inefficient in terms of shooting percentage, are invaluable to the Chicago Sky. They extend possessions, wear down opponents, and often lead to easy points. Her career shooting percentage is inflated by these close-range, low-difficulty attempts, yet the data still points to a need for better conversion. The data confirms that her primary offensive weapon is her motor and positioning, not her finesse or shooting technique. The combination of high-volume rebounding and high-volume, low-efficiency shots is a characteristic of a player whose impact transcends simple shooting percentages.

5. The Future: A Blueprint for Offensive Evolution

For Angel Reese to transition from a great rebounder and defender to an elite, franchise-level offensive star, her shooting chart must evolve. The 2024 rookie season provided a clear baseline: an effective player whose game is built on power and proximity to the basket. The next steps in her development must focus on expanding her range and refining her touch in the 3-to-10 foot area.

The current analysis suggests that her offensive game is predictable. Defenses know she is not a threat to shoot from outside and they can pack the paint. If Reese can develop a reliable 15-foot jumper or improve her finishing efficiency on short mid-range attempts, the entire Chicago Sky offense will benefit. This added dimension would force defenders to guard her honestly, opening up the lane for drives and creating better passing angles. Her journey to becoming a perennial All-Star is less about adding a deep three-point shot and more about mastering the mid-range and improving her overall field goal percentage closer to the league average for a dominant frontcourt player, solidifying her status as one of the WNBA's brightest young talents.