After being selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, Angel Reese figures to be the second-best rookie in her class behind Caitlin Clark. She’s instantly become the league’s best rebounder and a double-double machine. But if there’s one thing to rave about her game, it’s her touch at the rim.

Reese is by far the worst player in the WNBA when it comes to converting her layup attempts. Her 43.8 percent on shots inside five feet sounds bad. Video of some of her recent misses makes it look even worse. She had one of the worst failed layups of the season last week.

We know Reese’s finishing is bad, but how bad is it? Here’s what the numbers say.

Angel Reese has historically been bad at finishing layups

The league average for shots inside 5 feet this season is 59.6 percent. No one comes close to Reese’s 43.8 percent for those shots this season.

Shooting below 44 percent on shots inside five feet is clearly an unacceptably low number. Diana Taurasi is more likely to make a 25-foot bomb this season (45.2%) than Reese is to make a layup.

What makes Reese’s lack of finishing even more problematic is that she takes so many layups, and with 274 field goal attempts, she’s by far the best in the league. If she were just a little better, the Sky’s No. 9 offense would improve dramatically.

It’s not like Reese has a great jump shot to make up for her lack of an inside game, either. She’s making just 31 percent of her midrange shots this season and 18 percent of her 3s. There are also a few hopeless misses.

You just can’t give Angel Reese open looks like that photo.twitter.com/JXoT4qTJcs

— Heaven! (@HeavensFX) August 25, 2024

If Reese wants to be a positive offensive player, she needs to make layups. There is some reason to hope she can improve. She is still in her rookie year, and many other All-Stars have shot worse at the rim before becoming great finishers later in their careers.

Reese’s lack of finishing shouldn’t detract from her stellar rebounding, either. Even if you took away all the rebounds she got off her own misses, she’d still be the best offensive rebounder in the league.

Reese has a legitimate shot at being the best rebounder in league history thanks to her incredible effort on the glass. She became the only WNBA player ever to have three consecutive 20+ rebound games on Sunday. However, she needs to work on that finishing. It’s a legitimate flaw that’s holding her back from greatness.