Angel Reese is one of the biggest young stars in the WNBA, but she is also one of the most controversial. Now, another high-profile, oft-criticized female athlete is coming to her defense a little bit.
Even before entering the league, Reese has been positioned as a sort of villain to Caitlin Clark’s rise to stardom following their high-profile showdowns in the NCAA Tournament. That rivalry followed them to the WNBA, where Reese has continued to serve as a bit of a foil to Clark, taking on a villain role as Clark has emerged as the new face of the league.
That role as a sort of antagonist or heel in the WNBA space has not always been easy on Reese, and that frustration has shown up in press conferences at times. However, as she begins a new season with a new team, Reese teased that she might have a new approach to the media: simply staying quiet.
During an appearance on First Lady Michelle Obama’s podcast, Reese said that she would be open to taking fines rather than face some questions from difficult or aggressive reporters.
“I’ll take a fine before I have to go media and feel like my back is against the wall,” she said.
It’s certainly a unique approach for someone of her status, and it’s an approach that earned praise from another oft-maligned women’s sports star: USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe.
And in an episode of A Touch More, Rapinoe came to Reese’s defense a bit as she supported the WNBA star’s decision to simply stay quiet during some press conferences.
“I think Angel is a really great example of her taking her power back,” Rapinoe said. “Angel was set up as a villain before she was even in the WNBA, and now she’s making it clear that she’s gonna protect her peace. The media landscape is changing rapidly in women’s sports, and of course, the W, as always, is out front.”
Rapinoe pointed out that despite how Reese’s comments might have been characterized, she is not outright refusing to speak to the media; she’s simply being a little more intentional about her approach to her media responsibilities.
“Angel isn’t saying that she’s never gonna do media, but she is saying that she won’t just stand up and take anything that’s thrown at her,” Rapinoe said.
Rapinoe thinks that Reese’s actions could be an example for all athletes about how they can and should approach journalists and the media in general.
“I think it’s really about like a new level of respect across the board. There needs to be a quality of journalism that is at the level of these athletes,” Rapinoe said.
“I feel like this was obviously something Angel is doing for herself because of her personal experience, but I think this is a great example for all athletes and all female athletes of, ‘I don’t really have to do this.’ It might mean I get a fine, but at some point, we have to adjust the expectations that journalists can just go up there and throw any kind of narrative, and we’re the ones, athletes are the ones who are going to either field that or dispel that or say it’s not true or try and combat it.”
Reese has her critics, but she has also earned her fair share of fans for both her play on the court and the way she has handled her rise to fame. And it’s safe to say that she has a supporter in Rapinoe.
About Dave Kelsey
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