Angel Reese Describes Fear of Media, Citing Pattern of Public Controversies

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has publicly expressed a deep-seated fear of engaging with the media, revealing on her podcast that she would sometimes prefer to accept a financial penalty from the league rather than participate in interviews. Her statement sheds light on the pressures she feels as a high-profile athlete whose career has been consistently marked by intense public scrutiny, team disciplinary actions, and league-level investigations.

During a recent episode of her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, Reese gave a candid assessment of her interactions with reporters. “Even before the game, I’m terrified of what the media is about to ask,” she shared. “Because it could be the nicest question, but it’s going to get flipped or put into a different light or a different perspective.”

She detailed her internal conflict when facing questions, saying, “It’s like, ‘Are you here intentionally to start a mess, or are you intentionally here to ask a question?’ And it’s really tough for me in the media. Like, I don’t want to do an interview with anybody.” The WNBA star was unequivocal about her preference in certain situations. “Seriously, I’d rather take the fine sometimes than talking to the media because it always gets flipped,” Reese stated. “You could literally post ‘the sky is blue,’ and Angel said, ‘It’s too dark.’… for me, the media is really scary.”

A History of Contentious Remarks and Consequences

Reese’s recent comments are contextualized by several incidents where her own words have generated significant controversy. In September, following the conclusion of the Chicago Sky’s 10-34 season, her remarks to a Chicago Tribune reporter drew widespread criticism.

“I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese told the newspaper. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best.” She also raised doubts about her long-term future with the team, adding, “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me.”

The fallout from her comments was immediate. The team suspended Reese for the first half of a subsequent game for making “statements detrimental to the team.” Shortly after, at a postgame news conference on September 4, Reese issued an apology, suggesting her statements had been misinterpreted. “I probably am frustrated [with] myself right now,” she said. “I think the language is taken out of context. I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates… I want to apologize to my teammates, which I already have about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said.” She concluded, “I know it’s not the message, it’s the messenger. And understanding what I say can be taken any kind of way.”

League Investigations and Other Allegations

The intense focus on Reese has been a constant since her rise to national prominence during the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game. Playing for LSU, she famously taunted Iowa’s Caitlin Clark by pointing to her ring finger in a gesture that drew both praise and condemnation, establishing her as one of the most polarizing figures in the sport.

This scrutiny has extended into her professional career. In May, the WNBA opened an investigation into “hateful” comments allegedly directed at Reese during the Sky’s season opener. When asked by reporters if she had provided the league with details, she offered a non-committal answer: “That’s not a me question.” While she did not elaborate on the specific nature of the comments, she acknowledged the league’s backing. “I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me,” she said at the time. A week later, the league announced it had concluded its investigation but did not find sufficient evidence to validate the allegations.

Furthermore, on her podcast, Reese has made serious claims about the behavior of fans, particularly those of her rival, Caitlin Clark. In a September episode, she said, “I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it.” Reese also described being the target of deeply personal digital attacks, stating that ill-intentioned individuals had created and distributed fabricated, explicit AI-generated images of her, which were then sent to members of her family.