Candace Parker Receives Backlash For Comments On Angel Reese
Basketball legend Candace Parker is catching heat for critiques of Angel Reese’s game.
Parker addressed her ranking of Reese's in the WNBA on Post Moves, her new podcast with Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston. She ran off a list of players that she believes is elite, in ranked order.
"A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Arike Ogunbowale, Paige Bueckers, Cam Brink, and Angel Reese,” Parker said.
"What player are you taking Angel Reese over, of those that I just listed?" she asked.
She went on to explain by saying, “are you taking Angel above Paige? Are you taking Angel above Arike? Are you taking Angel above Sabrina or Kelsey or Caitlin or A’ja or Napheesa or Breanna? No.”
“That does not make her a bad player. That does not make me a hater. Do I think she could be up there? Yes. Do I think she can be at S eventually in her career and her evolution and what she's added to her game from her rookie season to now? Absolutely. Is she there now? No.”
Previously, Parker ranked Reese as a “C-level” player.
"I put her right at that C level. I think in terms of being above, you have to be able to have the ability to carry your team, be a one or two option,” Parker said during an interview with Complex Sports. “I think Angel Reese is fantastic at her role, which is offensive rebounding. She showed and demonstrated so much growth in that first year."
According to Parker, women in the WNBA should be placed under the same critical lens as their male counterparts in the NBA.
"I don't think there's enough scrutiny about our play," Parker told Dwyane Wade on his The Why with Dwyane Wade podcast.
Regardless of Parker’s critiques, Reese is having a strong sophomore campaign, making her second straight All-Star game. She’s averaging 13.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 22 games this season.
Reese has also achieved a historic 10-game double-double streak, making her the only player in WNBA history to have multiple streaks of 10 or more consecutive double-doubles.
