Angel Reese, the “Rebounding Queen” of the WNBA, recently shared an emotional message about her season-ending injury, expressing gratitude for what lies ahead. Many did not foresee or desire the abrupt conclusion to her debut season, which occurred just weeks before the regular season’s end. Despite this setback, Reese excelled notably in one area: rebounding. However, with A’ja Wilson nearing Reese’s record, the rookie sensation might have additional worries.
Reese quickly established herself as a force on the glass in her rookie year, living up to the title of “Rebounding Queen.” As the seventh-overall pick, she led the league in rebounds, averaging an impressive 13.1 rebounds per game and accumulating 446 rebounds across 34 games. In the process, she broke the previous single-season rebound record held by Sylvia Fowles, which stood at 404.
Nevertheless, Reese’s dominance was being closely challenged by her idol, A’ja Wilson, who was second on the rebounds leaderboard. With Reese now sidelined for the remainder of the season, Wilson, the back-to-back WNBA champion, finds herself in an ideal position to surpass Reese’s record. A recent tweet from the account “Stat Mamba” highlighted Wilson’s pursuit, noting, “A’ja Wilson needs 12 REB to break Angel Reese’s record for most rebounds in a single season in WNBA history.”
Wilson’s recent performance against the Indiana Fever saw her grab 17 rebounds, bringing her season total to 435. This places her just 12 rebounds away from Reese’s record, and with an upcoming game against the Connecticut Sun, Wilson could very well set a new single-season rebound benchmark. Her current average of 12.1 rebounds per game makes this feat highly achievable. If she breaks Reese’s record, it would complement her recent achievement of setting the single-season scoring record.
In another significant milestone, Wilson broke the WNBA single-season scoring record during the Las Vegas Aces’ game against the Indiana Fever. She made history just before halftime, scoring a jumper with 26.4 seconds left in the second quarter to surpass the previous record of 939 points set by Jewell Loyd in 2023. Averaging an impressive 27.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, Wilson continues to build her legacy as a two-time league MVP.
Despite being in competition with Wilson, Reese expressed admiration and support for her idol. Upon hearing of Wilson’s scoring record, Reese retweeted Wilson’s celebratory post, writing, “CONGRATS A! You deserve this! Forever & always my favorite player!! 🙏🏽🔥💐.” This response reveals Reese’s respect for Wilson, indicating that her admiration outweighs any competitive tension and suggesting she would be at peace if Wilson were to break her rebound record.
Meanwhile, Wilson, known for her humility, credited her success to her teammates. After breaking the scoring record, she remarked, “I don’t want to sound cliché when I say this, but I don’t get any of that without every single teammate along the way. I’m so grateful to be able to play with selfless women. My teammates are the heartbeat. They keep me going. I don’t get any points without them passing me the basketball.”
Wilson’s potential to surpass Reese’s record has ignited debates among fans. Some wonder if Wilson’s success might overshadow Reese’s rookie season, while others acknowledge the mutual respect between the two athletes. For now, the spotlight is on Wilson as she inches closer to making history once again, with Reese cheering on her idol from the sidelines.
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