Angel Reese seemingly blames WNBA media for failing to address racial remarks on players: “Put out this fire way before it started”

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Angel Reese seemingly blasted the WNBA and the media for late reaction towards racial slurs and derogatory remarks suffered by players. [photo: Imagn]

Racial slurs and derogatory remarks have become prevalent in the WNBA, particularly with the arrival of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. The rookies were rivals in college and the animosity between their respective fan bases has seeped into the pros. Sometimes, the basketball talk takes a backseat due to such social issues.

Alyssa Thomas highlighted racial slurs and degradation in her postgame interview following the Sun-Fever playoff series. She said that in her 11-year career, she had “never experienced the level of racial comments from the Indiana Fever fan base.” Thomas’ teammate DiJonai Carrington was blasted on social media for an eye poke against Clark that many thought was deliberate.

ESPN’s Andraya Carter commented about the issues mentioned by Thomas and added “online bullying” to the situation. She called it “sad” when factors outside basketball get the limelight when the WNBA has become even more exciting.

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Angel Reese’s response seemingly took a shot at WNBA media:

“Y’all know i’ve been going through this for the last 2 years but was told “save the tears” & “stop playing victim”. Y’all a little late to the party and could have tried to put out this fire way before it started….”

Jason Whitlock and Dan Patrick were two of the analysts who called out Reese for always trying to play the “victim.” The two pointed out that the “Chi Barbie” has openly embraced playing the role of a “villain” but complains when she can’t get what she wants. Whitlock and Patrick’s comments, albeit, were about her play on the basketball court.

Angel Reese’s unapologetic style might have rubbed people the wrong way. When Chicago Sky teammate Chennedy Carter body-checked Caitlin Clark, replays showed Reese standing up to cheer for Carter. When Chicago lost the rematch against Indiana, Reese complained of a “special whistle” given to Clark. She was ripped on social media for such actions.

The WNBA might have stepped in that early to address the outside noise that had nothing to do with basketball. Instead, they waited until the playoffs before making an official statement. Reese isn’t impressed with the league’s press release and the media’s recent comments.

Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho once ripped Angel Reese for showing emotion after LSU’s Elite Eight loss to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa

Angel Reese and LSU lost to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa 94-87 in the Elite Eight this year. The defeat ended the Tigers’ reign as the NCAA women’s champ and marked Reese’s final collegiate game. She cried in the postgame conference and opened up about racial discrimination and degrading remarks against her.

Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL player, who works as an analyst for Fox News, reacted to the scene:

“Angel Reese, you can’t be the big bad wolf, but then kind of cry like Courage the Cowardly Dog. … Nobody mourns when the villain catches an L. Angel Reese, you have self-proclaimed to be the villain. Shout out to you because you were the second-best player on the court, and it was not close.”

While the analyst received a ton of flak for his comments, many on social media backed him up. Acho practically told Reese to “save her tears,” an issue the Sky rookie brought up to take a shot at the WNBA and the media.