Angel Reese has been on a tear lately. In the Unrivaled Basketball League, she has stacked up five double-doubles, a stat line that speaks volumes. If redemption had a highlight reel, Reese’s recent performances would dominate the screen. But for all her dominance on the glass and interior play, a major gap remains—a gap her Chicago Sky coach is making abundantly clear. “Shooting. We want shooting. And lots of it.“

According to a post on X, “Angel Reese earns her 5th double-double in the Unrivaled Basketball League.” That’s not surprising. Reese has always been an elite rebounder, and her 16-point, 17-rebound performance against the Laces in the Rose’s 58-53 victory cemented her ability to clean the boards. But what Chicago Sky’s coaching staff wants from her isn’t just inside presence—it’s shooting. And her Head Coach Tyler Marsh has never beaten around the bush regarding this.

Earlier in November, the Sky’s coach made his vision clear. Given the Chicago Sky’s struggles last season—ranking second-worst in field goal percentage at 42.2% and posting a dismal 30.2% from beyond the arc, the fourth-worst mark in the league—his demand is both fair and urgent. “I told Rachel (Banham) and Michaela (Onyenwere) in our first conversations, ‘When you have it, I want you to feel the confidence of letting it ride,’ and that goes for everyone as we gonna get you shooting some threes too. So, yeah, we got some pieces that we’re going to look to add and continue to build around the core.”

Reese, for all her strengths, hasn’t shown she can meet that standard yet.

Against the Laces, she went 7-for-14 from the field, an efficient outing, but her attempts beyond the arc? 0. That’s the issue. While Chelsea Gray knocked down 4 triples in the same game, showcasing the perimeter scoring Marsh is desperate for, Reese remained locked in her comfort zone—dominating the glass but not stretching the floor.

Reese has flipped the script in the paint, shedding the “brick layer” tag that some of my readers had pinned on her. No longer just grinding for putbacks, she’s turning second chances into polished finishes. Her recent surge—averaging 15.6 points, 2.3 offensive rebounds, and 3 assists over the last three games—has been a game-changer. Paired with Chelsea Gray’s lethal playmaking (21.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, now 4th in Unrivaled), their squad has punched a playoff ticket. But if they want to go the distance, they’ll need more firepower from deep to keep defenses honest.

Although Reese has to improve her game, she is firing on all cylinders, but the same could not be said for her Rose BC teammate Lexie Hull

While Angel Reese dominates the paint, Lexie Hull makes defensive strides despite cold shooting night

Moved to the bench in favor of Brittney Sykes, Hull had a slow start against the Laces, missing her first two shots and struggling to make an impact offensively. However, she refused to fade into the background.

Despite going 0-for-3 from beyond the arc, Hull showed why she’s still a valuable asset. She chipped in 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting, along with three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Her defensive hustle kept Rose BC afloat, even when her shot wasn’t falling.

By halftime, Hull had just four points, but her relentless energy on defense helped swing momentum. In the second half, she found some rhythm, adding six more points and making crucial plays to keep Rose BC ahead. While her shooting struggles are evident, her ability to impact the game in other ways remains crucial.

Hull might not be lighting up the scoreboard, but she’s proving that even on an off night, effort and hustle can make all the difference. If she can rediscover her outside shot, she’ll be a bigger weapon for Rose BC down the stretch.