Sophie Cunningham Defends Angel Reese Quitting on Team Mid-Play in Game 2 For Not Getting the Ball

With the WNBA Finals setting record viewership numbers, everyone is talking about how Angel Reese has finally fulfilled her promise to be one of the league’s better players.

The 24-year-old has long been criticized for not being good enough. Many questioned whether she could impact a team beyond her phenomenal rebounding.

In her third year, she has displayed enough improvements that even her staunchest critics are beginning to appreciate her. The Maryland native went from top rebounder to Defensive Player of the Year to, now, the team’s leading offensive threat in the playoffs.

Reese routinely finishes with either the game-high or team high in points. In fact, she seems more motivated than ever and has been dominating on both ends of the floor.

Then, in Game 2, as she was on a roll, there was a situation where Reese asked for the ball, and none of her teammates passed it to her. The LSU alum seemingly quit on the play and started walking away.

Once that clip went viral, she received a lot of backlash. However, while discussing the Finals on Show Me Something, a certain Sophie Cunningham said this about Reese.

Sometimes you gotta do it, if your team’s not getting you the damn ball … She did what she needed to do in order to put yet another game on her back.

Sophie Cunningham said

The Indiana Fever guard agreed with co-host Drew Hanlen that had Angel Reese not followed that up with a dominant performance befitting that of a team’s best player, the backlash may have been justified. But she did, and that is what makes this completely normal.

Sophie Cunningham believes Angel Reese should be the Dream’s offensive focus

As both Sophie Cunningham and Drew Hanlen continued to talk about Angel Reese‘s moment of fury, the former dismissed the idea that social media is berating the Dream star for that moment. Then Cunningham added this to her analogy.

She put her money where her mouth is… You have got to involve her in pretty much every possession. Especially when she is playing such a high level of basketball right now.

Cunningham said

The 30-year-old said she understands the Dream are still getting used to the fact that Reese is their best player. But she wants the team to make it a matter of intent and pass the ball to the 6’3″ star every time.

Reese is playing her best basketball to date, and Cunningham believes the Dream should take advantage of that. Therefore, she wants the Dream to go into the rest of the series with the intent of passing the ball to Reese.

Sophie Cunningham praises Dream’s aggressiveness

After discussing Angel Reese and her evolution, both Show Me Something hosts continued to discuss how the Atlanta Dream have managed to swing the WNBA Finals in their favor.

I am shocked by how much Atlanta is winning by.

Cunningham said

Cunningham pointed out that Gabby Williams‘ shooting struggles may be the talking point, but the Valkyries’ lack of offense has been the biggest contributing factor.

She also questioned why the Bay Area-based team is not as aggressive as they have been all season long with their defense. In Game 1, they were great and stifled Reese in the second half. But in the following two games, their identity seems to have been lost.

Instead, it is the Dream who are defending collectively at a high level, leaving the Valkyries holding on for dear life. If this continues, Angel Reese and her teammates will lift the championship trophy by Game 5.

Also Read:

• Draymond Green Explains Angel Reese’s WNBA Finals Draw: “They’re Gonna Watch to See Her Fail”
• Sophie Cunningham Lauds Angel Reese For Standing Up For Her Teammate