Angel Reese recently made an impressive long-range shot during practice in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league. However, after footage of the shot circulated online, fans were quick to point out certain issues with the play.
Reese, who plays for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA, is also part of the newly created Unrivaled league, which is based in Miami. The league provides WNBA players with an opportunity to compete in the offseason while earning an average salary of $222,222. Reese represents Rose Basketball in this league, and ahead of a matchup against Vinyl BC, she attempted an extraordinary shot from beyond the out-of-bounds line, reminiscent of the deep-range shots made famous by NBA star Stephen Curry.
The official Rose Basketball social media account shared a video of Reese’s shot, praising the difficulty of the attempt, stating, “Angel just drained this shot half-court, OUT OF BOUNDS with it too.” However, some fans quickly scrutinized the clip, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the shot.
In the footage, multiple balls can be seen going into the basket simultaneously, leading some viewers to question whether Reese’s shot actually went in or if it was deflected by another ball. At the end of the clip, Reese can be heard saying, “That was mine,” in an attempt to claim credit for the shot.
Additionally, some fans pointed out that since Unrivaled is played on a smaller 3-on-3 court, the distance of Reese’s shot was not equivalent to a true half-court attempt on a standard basketball court. One fan commented on social media, saying, “That’s not half-court! Unrivaled floor is smaller. In actuality, that would be a logo shot, which is Caitlin Clark’s normal range every day! It is good to see Angel working on the worst part of her game though, you know, making a layup.”
Another user criticized Reese’s shooting form, adding, “That’s not half court (on a real court), and I’m 99% sure it didn’t even go in. I’ve always somewhat jokingly said I can’t tell if she’s right- or left-handed because her form is so bad, but now I’m wondering if I was joking.” Another person expressed doubt about the shot’s validity, saying, “It didn’t go in though… you can see it bounce off another ball or the rim.”
Despite the skepticism, Reese’s team quickly defended her, responding to one of the critical comments by explaining that the shot was still impressive regardless of the court size. The Rose Basketball account stated, “We know it’s a condensed court. She’s hit half-court shots from full courts too. And it definitely went in—watch in slow-mo… bank is open.”
Reese is no stranger to making long-range shots. During an All-Star practice session, she participated in a shooting competition against Caitlin Clark and managed to make a deep shot, while Clark was unable to do so.
Beyond her skills on the court, Reese has also engaged in lighthearted bets, including one with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. In a social media clip, she challenged Shaq, saying, “$100,000 if you make this shot,” as he prepared to take a free throw. To her surprise, Shaq successfully made the shot, leading Reese to react with a loud scream. She later acknowledged her loss in the bet, posting, “I guess I owe him 100K,” alongside a crying emoji.
Reese, along with players like Clark, has played a significant role in bringing increased attention to the WNBA, helping elevate the league’s popularity and visibility.