Angel Reese Posts Best Tournament Performance as USA Reaches Knockout Stage
Angel Reese contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and three steals off the bench in the U.S. victory over Czechia. Through three games, she averages 8.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. The U.S. advanced to the quarterfinals and will play the winner of Japan and Hungary.
Reese's 13-point, six-rebound, three-steal effort against Czechia marked her most productive outing of the tournament. She has maintained a 57% field-goal percentage while averaging 8.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in roughly 17 minutes per game off the bench for the Atlanta Dream standout.
The U.S. squad rebounded from a narrow 55-52 victory over Italy with a 105-64 rout of Czechia, following an opening 94-61 win against China. They now await the Japan-Hungary winner in Thursday's quarterfinal, with the team still seeking a definitive on-court leader among stars like Clark, Bueckers, Stewart, and Collier.
Reese's efficient bench contributions could reshape narratives about the value of role players in international basketball, potentially inspiring young athletes who don't start. The U.S. team's collective scoring approach may influence how future national squads are evaluated, emphasizing depth over star power. This could also elevate the profile of WNBA players globally, as fans see how seamlessly their skills translate to FIBA competition.