Angel Reese’s inclusion on the cover of a popular video game already had WNBA fans in a huff when the second-year Chicago Sky power committed an unforgiveable turnover in Monday’s 91-78 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Although she did record her ninth consecutive double-double with 22 points and 10 boards, Reese surrendered the ball five times, including one careless inbounds pass that quickly went viral.
‘That was a lazy pass,’ one fan remarked on X after Reese’s inexcusable second-quarter turnover.
In what tennis players would describe as an ‘unforced error,’ Reese delivered her inbounds pass without even looking at her intended target, Ariel Atkins, who watched as the balled trickled slowly into the hands of Minnesota’s Kamilla Cardoso near midcourt.
Cardoso then dished to teammate Bridget Carleton, who buried a wide-open 3-pointer to cut Chicago’s lead to 46-39. The Lynx trimmed that advantage to four by halftime before pulling away in the second half.
To fans, it wasn’t just Reese’s careless pass that was so bothersome. Rather, the conversation on social media focused on the two-time All-Star’s status as one of the faces of the league and a cover model for the WNBA version of the NBA 2K26 video game.
Angel Reese had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Monday’s loss, but she also had five turnovers
Angel Reese was picked to be on the cover of the WNBA edition of NBA 2K26 (pictured)
‘Is that move going to be in the video game ??’ one sarcastic fan asked on X.
Another describe Reese’s inbounds as a ‘no-think’ pass, while many gamblers asked how the turnover might impact their bets for the evening.
‘I need 4+ assists from her tonight…does that count as one???’ one gambler joked.
A few fans argued that Atkins was slow getting to the ball, but the overwhelming majority put the blame squarely at the former LSU star’s feet.
Reese is averaging a league-best 12.6 rebounds a game this season – 3.4 more a game than her next closest competitor – but critics continue to compare her unfavorably to her Indiana Fever rival Caitlin Clark.
Criticism often focuses on Reese’s 44.6-percent accuracy from the field, which is low for a post player such as herself. What’s more, the Sky have been outscored by 169 points when Reese is on the floor – a worse plus-minus rating than all but four WNBA players.
Still, Reese managed to snag the cover of NBA 2K26 over the objections of Clark fans.
‘Should have been Caitlin Clark,’ one wrote on X.
‘Over CC? Something smells fishy,’ another wrote.
Some fans have photoshopped the cover, replacing the basketball in Reese’s hand with a giant brick in a dig at her shooting struggles.
