Angel Reese has made significant strides in her basketball career, particularly in areas like scoring, rebounding, and defense, where she won the Defensive Player of the Year award. However, her former teammate Flau’jae Johnson identified three-point shooting as an aspect that still requires improvement. In a recent episode of the Bird’s Eye View, Johnson noted that while Reese has improved her shooting under coach Karl Smesko, developing her three-point shot could elevate her game further. "If she could consistently do that, you got to play them straight up, and that opens up the lane. I think that’s the evolution of her game," Johnson told Sue Bird.
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Johnson praised Reese's defensive skills, stating her confidence in Reese's abilities, especially as she now holds the DPOY title, previously dominated by A’ja Wilson. Their dynamic has changed, as Johnson remarked that she and Reese are no longer close friends, citing media pressures and locker room drama, but they still share a bond from winning the 2023 national championship against Iowa.
Before Smesko's coaching, Reese averaged only 0.6 three-point attempts per game, which has increased to 1.3 attempts. Although her shooting percentage was under 20% during the regular season, her progress is evident. In Game 3 of the semifinals against the New York Liberty, Reese made 2-of-4 three-point shots. Following the win that secured a place in the WNBA Finals, Reese recounted a training camp moment when Smesko insisted she make two consecutive three-point shots before continuing a drill, a challenge that initially frustrated her but ultimately helped her develop.
The evolution of the three-point shot in the WNBA is crucial, particularly with players like Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu setting high standards. If Reese can master long-range shooting alongside her existing skills, she has the potential to become one of the most complete players in the league.