Angel Reese Expresses Fear of Media, Citing History of Public Controversies

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has revealed a profound distrust of the media, stating on her podcast that she is often “terrified” of speaking with reporters and would sometimes prefer to incur a fine rather than participate in interviews. Her comments provide insight into her perspective following a period of intense public and media scrutiny that has defined much of her professional and late collegiate career.

Speaking on a recent episode of her podcast, “Unapologetically Angel,” Reese detailed her anxieties surrounding media interactions. She explained that her apprehension begins even before games, as she anticipates how her words might be misrepresented.

“Even before the game, I’m terrified of what the media is about to ask. Because it could be the nicest question, but it’s going to get flipped or put into a different light or a different perspective,” Reese said. “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.”

She further elaborated on her willingness to accept financial penalties from the league to avoid these situations. “Seriously, I’d rather take the fine sometimes than talking to the media because it always gets flipped,” she stated. “And I think that’s where media has gotten these days. You could literally post ‘the sky is blue,’ and Angel said, ‘It’s too dark.’ Stuff like that, you know. So, I think, it’s just, for me, the media is really scary.”

A History of High-Profile Incidents

Reese’s journey into the national spotlight has been marked by several high-profile and often contentious events. The intense media attention began during the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game when her LSU Tigers defeated Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. In the final moments of the game, Reese directed a taunt at Clark, pointing to her ring finger, an act that sparked widespread debate and established her as a polarizing figure in the sport.

Since entering the WNBA, Reese has remained a central figure in basketball-related discourse, with her statements frequently becoming sources of controversy. Near the conclusion of the 2025 WNBA season in September, she faced significant backlash for comments made to a Chicago Tribune reporter regarding her team’s performance. The Sky finished the season with a 10-34 record, securing last place.

“I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese told the publication. “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. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason.”

She added, “I am very vocal about what we need and what I want. 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.”

Apology and Subsequent Suspension

The remarks drew criticism, and Reese later issued an apology during a postgame news conference on September 4, suggesting her words were misconstrued. “I probably am frustrated [with] myself right now,” she explained. “I think the language is taken out of context. I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year.”

Reese continued, “So, I want to apologize to my teammates, which I already have about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said. And I just have to be better with my language. Because I know it’s not the message, it’s the messenger.”

Despite the apology, the team suspended Reese for the first half of a game later that week for making “statements detrimental to the team.”

League Investigations and Further Allegations

The controversies have not been limited to on-court performance. In May, the WNBA launched an investigation following claims of “hateful” comments directed at Reese during the Sky’s season opener against the Connecticut Fever, a team that featured Caitlin Clark. When asked if she had provided the league with details, Reese deflected, saying, “That’s not a me question.” She also did not specify the nature of the comments.

However, during the same press conference, she acknowledged the support she was receiving. “Obviously, there’s no place in this league for that,” Reese stated. “I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me… Going through this whole process, if it can happen to me. It can happen to anyone.” The league’s investigation concluded the following week, with officials stating they did not find sufficient evidence to validate the allegations.

In another instance, Reese used her podcast platform to address the behavior of fans, particularly those of her rival, Caitlin Clark. In a September episode, she accused some of these fans of racism and of creating and distributing explicit AI-generated images of her.

“I think it’s really just the fans, her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that are really just, they ride for her, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it,” Reese said. She also made a disturbing claim: “Multiple occasions, people have made AI images of me naked. They have sent it to my family members.”