Record-setting rebounder Angel Reese calls out stat-padding critics

Angel Reese is rebounding the ball at an unprecedented rate in WNBA history. And she's a rookie.

On Sunday, the Sky forward collected another 19 boards to take her season tally to 418 rebounds, breaking the previous all-time single-season record of 404 rebounds set by Sylvia Fowles in 2018.

As part of her 24th double-double of the season, Reese also clinched the single-season record for most offensive rebounds (165), surpassing Yolanda Griffiths' mark of 162 set during the 2001 season.

Despite Reese's best efforts, the Sky (11-21) suffered their sixth consecutive defeat of the season and now find themselves in danger of losing the eighth and final playoff spot to the Atlanta Dream.

Reese has received some public criticism for potentially stat-padding herself into the record books — putting up empty calories in losses — while collecting her own misses. The most significant marker of this theory has been Reese's subpar field-goal percentage in close-range shots. In shots attempted at less than five feet (restricted area), Reese is shooting a paltry 43.6 percent (132 of 303). Even worse, she's shooting 11.4 percent (4 of 35) in shot attempts in the five-to-nine-foot area — typically the zone where bigs thrive.

Reese, though, remains unperturbed by those allegations. After setting the rebounding record on Sunday, the Maryland native made it a point to call out anyone accusing her of being a stat-padder.

"A lot of people think it's because I get my own [misses] but statistically, it's not," Reese said, per The Sporting News. "A lot of people think it's because I'm the tallest on the court, but I'm not the tallest on the court. Just being able to go down there and bang, doing things that a lot of people don't want to do. Defense and rebounding wins championships. And I've won championships at every level by just doing that."

Reese further addressed the criticisms surrounding her offensive arsenal, stressing that she wanted to make a name for herself in the WNBA with her rebounding and defense, much like she did at LSU.

With eight games left in the season, Reese would need to average 10.25 rebounds the rest of the way to reach the 500-rebound mark. The Sky will next face reigning WNBA champions, the Aces, on Tuesday.