The Chicago Sky star was tossed from the game against the New York Liberty in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night.
Angel Reese’s ongoing journey in the WNBA has now seen its first major hiccup, with her first ejection occurring during a tense matchup against the New York Liberty.
The 22-year-old Chicago Sky rookie was handed two quick technical fouls in the fourth quarter, which led to her being removed from the game. This decision sparked various opinions from her teammates and even fellow Chicago basketball star Lonzo Ball.
Reese chose not to speak to the media after the game, a decision that might lead to a fine as it’s the second consecutive game she avoided post-game interviews. Previously, after Saturday’s loss to Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever, Reese was fined $1,000 for not speaking to the reporters.
Following the game, Sky teammate Marina Mabrey shared her thoughts on the incident, saying, “She got two techs, she said something to the ref. Whatever he felt like was the correct call is what he made. It’s more about composure for us in our young years in the WNBA. You’ve got to get to know refs and how they respond to things.”
Lead official Maj Forsberg said the technical fouls were for “disrespectfully addressing” the official and “waving her hand in dismissal.”
Lonzo Ball, present at the game, voiced his disagreement on social media, writing, “Ref that threw out @Reese10Angel is weak btw. Keep ya money Angel I got you.”
Reese responded, appreciating Ball’s support.
Reflecting on the incident and her burgeoning career, Reese noted the increased attention on women’s basketball, largely stemming from fierce competition and notable games, including the national championship. She expressed her belief in the significant contribution she and her peers have made to promote the sport.
Reese remarked, “I think so many people are watching women’s basketball right now. It all started from the national championship game, and I’ve been dealing with this for two years now and understand that, yeah, negative things have probably been said about me. But honestly, I’ll take that because look where women’s basketball is.”
She later added, “I’ll look back in 20 years and be like: ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person, it’s because of me too, and I want you to realize that. Like it’s just not ‘cause of one person. A lot of us have done so much for this game.”
