Angel Reese made WNBA history Tuesday night but couldn’t hide the emotional toll as the Chicago Sky fell to 2–6 with a blowout 85–66 loss to the undefeated New York Liberty.
Reese finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record 30 double-doubles. Despite the personal milestone, she appeared visibly shaken during the postgame press conference, overwhelmed by the scrutiny surrounding her on and off the court.
When a reporter framed a question around silencing online critics, Reese responded calmly but firmly:
“I don’t worry about what’s going on online. People online are behind a keyboard for a reason.”
But as the personal questioning continued, her teammate Ariel Atkins stepped in.
Atkins Defends Reese: “Her Crown Is Heavy”
Atkins, clearly fed up, interrupted the press conference to defend her 23-year-old teammate:
“I’m sorry, can I say something? This is a 23-year-old kid. The amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day and she still shows up.”
“Whatever questions y’all got about our team, basketball wise, we appreciate it. But all that other nonsense, it’s irrelevant… This is a 23-year-old kid who handles herself with grace. Her crown is heavy.”
Her words visibly moved Reese, who fought back tears while expressing gratitude for her teammates.
“I know my teammates trust me and I know they have my back,” Reese said. “Ariel has my back through everything… I just want to go to work and enjoy the job I love.”
Stats Don’t Tell the Full Story
Reese has averaged 9.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game this season, a slight dip from her standout rookie year. But under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh, the Sky are still finding their rhythm. With Courtney Vandersloot sidelined for the season, growing pains are inevitable.
Still, Angel Reese continues to show grit and leadership beyond the stat sheet. Her resilience, and the support from teammates like Atkins remain a bright spot amid a tough start to the season.
Read More: ESPN Calls Out Angel Reese’s Shooting Woes in Chicago’s Shaky Season
