{"id":847737,"date":"2026-09-14T18:04:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T18:04:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/847737\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T18:04:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T18:04:36","slug":"angel-reese-finishes-world-cup-as-team-usa-leader-in-unexpected-stat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/847737\/","title":{"rendered":"Angel Reese finishes World Cup as Team USA leader in unexpected stat"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you had to pick one national team player to lead Team USA in field-goal percentage before the World Cup, it probably wouldn\u2019t have been Angel Reese. Reese shot 39.1% from the field in her first season, 45.8% last year, and 43.7% this season. While she had been on a tear <\/a>with the Atlanta Dream going into the World Cup, she has not generally been one of the most efficient scorers in the W.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Reese put together a very efficient World Cup. She led all Team USA players in field-goal percentage, shooting 59.1% from the field in 15 minutes per game over six contests. She did take a lot fewer shots than many other players, but that should not detract from how impactful she was.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reese only played nine minutes in the gold medal game against France, but she consistently impacted games in relatively limited minutes all tournament long by rebounding and defending at a high level and making the most of any shots she got in the flow of the offense. In the gold medal game, for example, she forced a late second-quarter turnover <\/a>from Pauline Astier that led to a Caitlin Clark 3-pointer on the other end and swung the game\u2019s momentum in the USA\u2019s favor. It was a great first World Cup and bodes well for Reese\u2019s future with USA Basketball.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hopefully, Reese will be just as effective in the playoffs<\/p>\n

Reese\u2019s first World Cup will be followed by another big career first almost immediately. The Dream already clinched a playoff spot, and Reese will make her WNBA postseason debut after two disappointing seasons with the Chicago Sky.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With Brionna Jones still out, Reese will have to carry a much bigger load with the Dream than she did with Team USA. Nevertheless, playing high-pressure minutes with the national team should have her in the right mindset for the playoffs. Hopefully, mindset won\u2019t be the only thing that carries over to the WNBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Atlanta needs Reese to be an impactful defender and efficient scorer. They are most likely to finish the regular season in the 4-5 matchup with the Indiana Fever. That means they will get a chance to avenge last year\u2019s early first-round defeat, but it will be a tough series with lots of eyes on it<\/a>. If Reese cannot score efficiently around the rim in addition to her rebounding and defense, the Dream might find themselves asking too much of Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reese spent two seasons wishing for a better team and putting pressure on the Sky to build a playoff team around her and Kamilla Cardoso. This is her chance to prove that she is ready for the big stage in the WNBA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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