“Trying to beat those dumb stat pad allegations”: Fans slam Sky coach for denying Angel Reese a shot at 20-20 game

Fans react to Angel Reese failing to have a 20-point, 20-rebound night after Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon took her out late against the Phoenix Mercury. [photo: @tspoon_11, @angelreese5]

Teresa Weatherspoon took out Angel Reese for good with 2:39 remaining in the game in the Chicago Sky’s 86-68 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. Reese exited with 19 points, 20 rebounds, one steal and one block. Had Weatherspoon allowed the “Chi Barbie” to end the game, she might have been the first rookie in WNBA history with a 20-point, 20-rebound night.

Despite the Mercury’s insurmountable lead, the decision to take out Reese was quite a surprise. Weatherspoon normally keeps her in late even when the Sky was losing big in past games. During Reese’s historic run of double-doubles, Chicago would go to her to keep her streak going.

Sky fans reacted to Weatherspoon’s call to pull out Angel Reese late against the Mercury:

“Angel Reese has played out the game every other game. She now 1pt away from a 20/20 game & she put her on the bench. She probably trying to beat those dumb stat pad allegations goofies kept saying. Dumbest team in the league.”

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Reese hit 4-of-4 shots in the fourth quarter, so at least a made free throw would have given her the record. Although her scoring isn’t the most efficient, she had her shooting touch spot on in the final frame. Scoring one point in the last 2:39 minutes in the game wasn’t an impossible task for the rookie to accomplish.

A 20-point, 20-rebound output is still doable for Angel Reese

Following the 86-68 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, the Chicago Sky still have 13 games left in the regular season. The loss on Sunday dropped Chicago’s record to 11-16 for the eighth and final playoff spot. Angel Reese and Co. are now just 1.5 games ahead of the ninth-placed Atlanta Dream (9-17).

With every game crucial for Chicago’s playoff aspirations, Reese could eventually complete what he couldn’t finish on Sunday. The Sky are underdogs in some matchups but are also favored in a handful of others. Regardless of the opponent, they will have to step up to punch a ticket to the postseason.

Perhaps the showdown against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever late this month would be the ideal time for Reese to grab that record. As the Fever sits a rung higher than the Sky in the standings, a 20-point, 20-rebound performance by Reese would make her fans ecstatic.