Angel Reese has already made waves in the WNBA just weeks into her rookie season with the Chicago Sky, but now she’s dominating the conversation in a way only social media could orchestrate—by inspiring the creation of a hilarious new “statistic” that has fans and players alike cracking up: the “BOA,” or “Broke Opponent’s Ankles.”
No, it’s not an official league stat tracked by the WNBA or verified by any analytics firm, but the “BOA” stat is gaining momentum online thanks to Reese’s tough, physical style of play and her no-nonsense approach on the court. The moment that gave birth to the trend came during a Sky matchup when Reese cleanly boxed out a veteran forward under the rim with such intensity that the opposing player stumbled backward, sprawling to the floor.
The clip—inevitably slowed down, edited with dramatic music, and re-posted across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter)—quickly went viral. Fans were quick to joke that Angel Reese wasn’t just grabbing rebounds or getting stops, she was “breaking ankles without even dribbling.” That’s when the idea of the “BOA” stat was born.
“She just added a BOA to the stat sheet,” one fan posted on X, earning over 30,000 likes. “12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 BOA. That’s MVP behavior.”
Soon, the term was everywhere. Memes circulated with Reese in mock-up video game stat cards listing “BOA” as a core rating. Influencers began ranking players by their “BOA per game,” and sports pages began keeping unofficial counts of Reese’s on-court intimidation moments—most of them involving hard-nosed rebounding, aggressive defense, or simply sending a message with her physicality and confidence.
The humor of it all is rooted in what has become Reese’s signature style: intense, unapologetic, and unafraid to mix it up with anyone—whether it’s in the paint or in the postgame press conference. Just as she did at LSU, Reese brings energy, emotion, and edge to every WNBA contest. Fans appreciate the authenticity, and many see her as a breath of fresh air in a league filled with high-IQ, high-skill competition.
But it’s not just fans who are getting in on the joke—her teammates are loving it too.
“She’s the enforcer,” Sky teammate Marina Mabrey said with a laugh after one game. “We told her in the locker room she leads the league in BOAs. I think she’s running away with it.”
Reese herself has embraced the viral moment. On her Instagram story, she reposted a meme of her “BOA” rating with the caption: “Y’all are WILD 😂 but I love it! Keep the stats coming.” In a recent press conference, when a reporter asked about her growing legend on social media, she smiled and replied, “Hey, if they’re giving me new stats, I’ll take it. I’m just doing what I do—play hard and be me.”
The rise of the “BOA” phenomenon speaks to a larger truth about Reese’s popularity and influence: she connects with fans not just through performance, but through personality. She doesn’t conform to traditional expectations of how athletes—especially women athletes—are “supposed” to carry themselves. Instead, she plays with emotion, embraces the spotlight, and remains fully unapologetic for her competitive fire. And fans, particularly a younger generation, are responding to that energy.
The social media-driven stat also shows how the WNBA is continuing to grow in pop culture relevance. Whether it’s “BOA” stats, Caitlin Clark’s logo threes, or Sabrina Ionescu’s three-point contests with NBA stars, the league is generating conversation far beyond traditional sports channels. Reese, who already had millions of followers before she even played her first WNBA game, is at the center of that cultural crossover.
Though the “BOA” stat might be entirely fictional, it captures something very real about Angel Reese’s presence: her ability to shift momentum, change the tone of a game, and spark conversations—whether it’s about basketball, attitude, or
