Napheesa Collier DESTROYS Angel Reese – STAT PADDING In Pre Season! She’s No Caitlin Clark!
Nafessa Collier Dominates Angel Reese: Preseason Blowout Highlights the Gap Between Hype and Production
On May 10th, the WNBA preseason served up more than just a tune-up game—it delivered a reality check. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier put together a clinical dismantling of Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, raising new questions about Reese’s transition to the professional level and her much-discussed impact on women’s basketball.
Collier’s Basketball Masterclass
Napheesa Collier was nothing short of brilliant. In just 25 minutes and 53 seconds, she scored a staggering 26 points on 8-for-13 shooting (61.5%), adding five rebounds, a steal, and a block to the stat sheet. “She was everywhere,” said one WNBA scout in attendance. “Offense, defense, leadership—you name it.”
Collier’s performance wasn’t just about numbers. She showcased savvy, physicality, and a polished game honed over several WNBA seasons—a stark contrast to her opposite number, Angel Reese.
Angel Reese: Stat Padding or Superstar?
For months, Angel Reese has been at the center of a heated debate. Is she the next generation’s box-office draw, or merely a social media creation? Against Minnesota, that question was put under a harsh spotlight.
Reese finished with 10 points on just 2-for-8 shooting, three rebounds, and six assists in 25 minutes. Her legendary rebounding—her calling card at LSU—was neutralized completely by Collier’s smart positioning and physical play. The Lynx repeatedly denied her easy put-backs and second-chance opportunities, exposing weaknesses in her current pro game.
While Reese has often credited herself as a primary reason for the WNBA’s popularity boost (“People watch women’s basketball for me, too,” she’s said), the numbers tell another story. Her much-celebrated homecoming at LSU brought in just 6,300 fans to a 13,000-seat arena. Preseason games in Chicago also saw disappointing attendance, with just 4,600 present in a major market.
Social Media Stardom vs. Real Drawing Power
The Reese hype is real on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. But, as this preseason suggests, online clout hasn’t translated to packed arenas or viral must-see-TV on the scale of Caitlin Clark.
Contrast this with Clark, whose preseason home debut sold out in just 27 minutes, and whose televised games have been outdrawing some NBA preseason contests. The difference is clear: While Reese wins the algorithm battle, Clark wins at the ticket gate and in TV viewership.
Coaching, Culture, and “Stat Padding”
Reese’s rookie season with the Sky was marred by rumors of locker-room discord and a culture prioritizing individual stats over team success. Former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was fired after just one year, and sources attributed the move—at least in part—to a lack of cohesion. Reese may have averaged an impressive 13.1 rebounds per game, but critics argue that many came “padding the stats” in lopsided games.
Game tape tells the story: forced shots in traffic, dominating the paint on missed layups (often her own), and a tendency to prioritize the double-double streak over team offensive flow. When held in check by an elite defender like Collier and a disciplined Lynx team, Reese’s impact faded—a warning sign as the regular season approaches.
New Coach, New Role—But Will It Work?
Sky’s new head coach, Tyler Marsh, is making efforts to adapt. Rather than keeping Reese buried under the rim, Marsh plans to use her in more perimeter actions and as a playmaker. “She can’t be the same player as last year,” Reese admitted, acknowledging a need to develop her range and decision-making. Early signs, though, point to growing pains as she learns pro-level spacing and defense.
Yet the challenge remains: can Reese become more than just an individual stat-chaser? A social media following might land endorsement deals, but it won’t help Chicago get back to the playoffs.
The Verdict—And a Defining Matchup Looms
Basketball, ultimately, is about winning. The boxscore is only as valuable as its contribution to team success. “The WNBA is unforgiving to players who can’t adapt,” a league executive told me. “Physical talent isn’t enough—you have to help your team win games.”
For now, Angel Reese must answer that test. With the upcoming regular season opener against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever, the stage is set for a new chapter in this rivalry—and for Reese to prove she is more than just a viral star.
The empty seats at her games—while Caitlin Clark’s sell out in minutes—speak louder than any Instagram post. The spotlight is unforgiving, and the margin for error grows thinner by the day.
Women’s basketball is indeed at a crossroads. For Angel Reese, the next step isn’t about chasing double-doubles—it’s about delivering wins, evolving her game, and justifying the hype with substance, not just style.
.
.
.
Play video:
