WNBA star Angel Reese says she'd rather pay a fine than speak to reporters sometimes

Angel Reese, a star player of the Chicago Sky WNBA team, recently opened up about her fear of the media in an episode of her podcast "Unapologetically Angel". The 5-foot-11-inch forward expressed that she would rather pay a fine than engage with reporters because she fears that her words will be misinterpreted and taken out of context. She stated that even well-intentioned questions can get distorted or twisted to suit the reporter's agenda.

Reese's apprehension about media interactions stems from past controversies surrounding her statements, which have often been scrutinized and criticized by fans and opponents alike. In one instance, she was accused of making "hateful" comments against her teammate Caitlin Clark, an Iowa Hawkeyes player and arch-rival of Reese's in the 2023 NCAA women's basketball national championship game.

The WNBA investigation into these allegations ultimately cleared Reese of any wrongdoing, but the incident has left a lasting impact on her perception of the media. She now feels that the line between constructive criticism and vilification can be blurred, making it challenging for her to trust reporters' intentions.

Reese's comments have sparked a wider conversation about racism and bias in sports journalism, as well as the consequences faced by athletes who speak out against injustice or challenge the status quo. While some fans and commentators have rallied around Reese, others have questioned her motives and methods.

As one of the most prominent figures in women's basketball, Angel Reese must navigate this complex landscape with caution, weighing the potential benefits of speaking her mind against the risks of being misinterpreted or misrepresented by the media.

I'm totally with Angel on this . I mean, can you blame her? We've all been there where our words get taken out of context and twisted to fit someone's narrative . It's like, one day you're speaking truth to power, and the next day you're the villain . And yeah, it's not just Angel - we've seen so many athletes get roasted by media outlets for expressing their opinions or standing up for what they believe in .

But at the same time, I think Angel's concerns about the line between constructive criticism and vilification are totally valid . As a society, we need to be having more nuanced conversations about racism, bias, and social justice - not less . And athletes like Angel are leading the charge, using their platforms to amplify marginalized voices and spark important discussions .

So yeah, I'd rather pay a fine than engage with reporters too . It's just not worth the risk of being misrepresented or misunderstood . Maybe instead of interrogating Angel for speaking her mind, we should be supporting her for using her platform to create change .

omg I'm so worried about Angel Reese she's going through so much drama rn and it's not fair that the media is all over her again I mean, can't they just give her a break? she's trying to be authentic and speak her mind but it's like, every time she does something, there's this huge backlash and it's not just from fans, it's from reporters too it's crazy how quickly things can get twisted around

I feel like the WNBA needs to step in more and protect their players from all this drama I mean, they're just trying to play ball and have fun on the court, but noooo, they get scrutinized for everything it's not fair Angel Reese is an amazing player and she deserves better than to be hounded by the media all the time

I'm so glad she has her podcast now it's like, her safe space or whatever where she can express herself without fear of being misinterpreted but even that comes with its own set of challenges I feel bad for her

you know what's wild? i was watching a video of old clips from the 80s and some dude on a bike is riding so fast it's like a blur , then he jumps over a ramp and lands in mid-air for like 5 seconds, it's crazy. anyway, back to angel reese... i think she's kinda justified about her fears with the media tho . it's like when you're trying to have a conversation with your friend and they're just not listening, they're already thinking what they wanna say is true regardless of what you're saying... same thing happens in the media, right?

I feel for Angel Reese, she's already going through a lot and now she's got to deal with people questioning her every move... it's like, can't we just have an honest conversation without trying to tear each other down? Like, I get that the media wants to do their job, but come on, they're not perfect. They can misinterpret or twist things around to fit their narrative. It's frustrating when you speak out against something and people assume you're being hateful or divisive just because it doesn't align with what they want to hear.

And yeah, racism and bias in sports journalism are huge issues... athletes like Angel Reese who speak out against injustice or challenge the status quo are often the ones who get scrutiny, not praise. It's like, we need more voices like hers, not less. We need to create a space where people feel comfortable speaking truth to power and not fear being vilified by the media.

I feel like Angel Reese is just trying to protect herself from the crazy world of sports journalism . I mean, can you blame her for not wanting to get caught up in a PR disaster? One minute she's making some thoughtful comment and the next it's all over the headlines with everyone having an opinion on what she "really" meant . It's like, can't we just have a genuine conversation without someone twisting it into a controversy? And yeah, those past incidents did leave a mark, I'm not surprised she's got some trust issues with the media . As a fan of the Sky and Angel herself, I'd rather see her speak her mind when it matters most on the court ️ than have to worry about what the press is gonna say about it .

I'm so tired of all these athletes having to deal with the media drama . I get why Angel Reese is hesitant to talk to reporters, especially after what she went through with those accusations last year . It's like, can't we just trust that people have good intentions and are asking for a real conversation? But at the same time, I feel like athletes do need to speak up when they see something unfair or messed up in their sport . Maybe there's a way to find that balance between being open and honest, without getting caught up in all the drama and negativity .

I was just thinking about how my cat, Luna, is super finicky about the camera angles in the videos I post on Instagram . She's always like "no, no, no" and I'm like "okay, okay, let me try again". It made me think that maybe Angel Reese isn't being totally unreasonable about wanting to control how her words are presented... I mean, can you imagine if your quotes were taken out of context and used against you? That would be super stressful!

And omg have you tried those new planters at Home Depot? They're SO cute! I got this adorable little succulent planter that's literally perfect for my living room . Anyway, back to Angel Reese... I think it's cool that she's speaking out about the importance of responsible journalism . Maybe we can learn a thing or two from her experience and become more mindful of how our words are received by others?

I'm so done with athletes having to sugarcoat their thoughts just to avoid getting scrutinized . Can't we trust people to ask questions without twisting them into some kind of scandal? The WNBA investigation might have cleared Angel Reese, but the damage is already done - she's gonna think twice before speaking her mind now . And honestly, who hasn't been in a situation where their words are taken out of context or misinterpreted? It's not like they're trying to be malicious . I wish athletes could just speak freely without worrying about being villainized or misquoted .

I get why Angel is hesitant to engage with the media, especially after everything she's been through. Those past controversies have gotta be super tough to deal with, you know? It's like, one minute you're trying to make a point, and the next minute it's twisted into something completely different. And yeah, I think it's crazy how easily words can get distorted or taken out of context. Like, even if someone is asking a legitimate question, it gets turned into some kind of gotcha moment. That must be super frustrating for her.

And you know what's even more concerning? The fact that she's starting to feel like the line between constructive criticism and vilification can't be trusted at all. Like, shouldn't we want athletes to speak out against injustice or challenge the status quo? But I guess when it's done by a prominent player like Angel, it gets scrutinized and picked apart in ways that regular people might not face. It's just... really interesting to watch how this whole thing plays out, I think.

I think it's kinda unfair to label Angel as "hateful" just 'cause she spoke her mind on the court . I mean, who hasn't had a disagreement with their teammate or coach at some point? It's not like she was trying to be malicious . And yeah, maybe the media didn't handle it the best way... but do you think they'd have been so harsh if the shoe was on the other foot? I'm just saying, let's try to keep things in perspective and not jump to conclusions right off the bat . Angel's still an amazing player and a strong voice for women's sports, and we should be supporting her, not tearing her down .

I feel so bad for Angel Reese She's already going through so much stress and scrutiny on the court, now she has to deal with the media too? I think it's super unfair that she's been judged harshly just because she spoke her mind about a situation that felt important to her. I mean, can't we trust athletes to have their own opinions and experiences? The way she talks about how even well-meaning questions can be twisted around is so true It's like the media expects them to be perfect all the time, without making any mistakes.

It's also crazy that there are people questioning her motives for speaking out against racism and bias in sports journalism. Like, isn't that what we're supposed to want? For athletes to speak up and challenge the status quo? It just feels like some fans and commentators are more interested in tearing others down than lifting them up.

I'm loving that Reese is speaking her truth and advocating for herself and other athletes who might be going through similar struggles. We need more of this kind of courage and self-awareness from the people we look up to in sports!

I mean, can you blame her? I've seen what happens to people who speak out on social media... their words get twisted and turned into something completely different from what they meant. Like back in the day, when I used to watch my favorite basketball games with my friends, we'd always talk trash about our favorite teams, but it was all in good fun, you know? We weren't trying to hurt anyone's feelings. But now, everyone's so uptight and worried about being "cancelled". It's like, chill, Angel's just speaking her mind, maybe she's even trying to bring attention to some important issues...

I feel for this girl she's just trying to protect herself after everything that's happened to her. I mean, can you blame her? We've all been there where a comment gets twisted and blown outta proportion . It's not about being cautious, it's about self-preservation, right? She shouldn't be penalized for being honest . The media needs to understand that athletes are human too we make mistakes sometimes but that doesn't mean we're malicious. I think she's doing the right thing by setting boundaries with the press , it's about time someone stood up for themselves in a sport where there's already so much pressure .

I think it's super relatable when Angel talks about feeling like she'd rather take a fine than deal with the drama that comes with talking to the press . I mean, can't we just have a respectful conversation without everything being twisted and used against us? It's so easy for our words to be misinterpreted or taken out of context, especially when we're speaking up about important issues like racism and bias in sports journalism.

And honestly, it's not just Angel who feels this way. I think many athletes feel like they're walking on eggshells when they're talking to the media, trying not to say something that might get them roasted online or criticized by fans. It's like, we get it, you want to speak out and make a difference, but can't we just have a safe space to do so without being torn apart?

I'm all for Angel speaking her mind and using her platform to raise awareness about these issues, but I think she has every right to feel cautious and protect herself from getting hurt in the process . After all, our voices matter, and we shouldn't be afraid to use them

ugh I feel bad for angel reese, but at the same time she does seem kinda whiny to me like yeah you were accused of saying some stuff that people didn't like and now you're afraid of what reporters are gonna say? idk man it's just a job. I do think though that this whole situation highlights how athletes have to be so extra careful with what they say, because one wrong move can blow up in their face and ruin their rep

I feel so bad for Angel Reese she's already been through so much scrutiny and now she's getting anxious about talking to reporters? I get it tho , the media can be super misleading and it's hard to know what's gonna come out of a conversation. But at the same time, as a prominent athlete, she has a platform and should be able to use it to speak up for what she believes in without fear of being misinterpreted.

It's crazy how quickly things can get twisted or taken outta context , especially when it comes to sensitive topics like racism and bias. Angel's right to worry about her words being distorted, but we need more athletes speaking up and using their voices for good !

I'm still re-watching that interview on Angel Reese's podcast where she talks about her fear of the media ... I mean, who wouldn't be right? The way we consume sports news is so quick to jump to conclusions and twist words against someone. It's like, can't we just have a chill conversation without trying to tear each other down? And Reese's point about how well-intentioned questions can get distorted... yeah, I feel her on that one too. We need more nuanced discussions in sports journalism, not just clickbait headlines and sensationalized articles.

And can we talk about the impact this has on athletes who speak out against injustice or challenge the status quo? It's like they're walking on eggshells, never knowing when their words will be taken out of context. We need more platforms for athletes to share their thoughts and experiences without fear of being vilified by the media.

.. can you imagine having your words twisted like that? It's crazy how one wrong step can lead to a whole new level of scrutiny. I think what Angel Reese is saying is real, though - it's hard to trust people who are just trying to sell a story. But at the same time, she can't just stay silent and hope no one notices her. That's not living an unapologetic life, right? It's like, how much risk is too much risk if you're speaking out against something you care about? And what does it say about our society that we even have to consider the possibility of athletes being "vilified" for just trying to speak their minds?

I mean, can't we just have a straight conversation without trying to fit it into a neat little box for reporters to report on? Like, if Angel Reese doesn't want to talk to the press, that's her prerogative... but does she really need to justify herself?

And can we please not forget that athletes are human beings too? It's not like they're immune to making mistakes or saying something stupid. Caitlin Clark might've been a bit salty after losing that championship, who knows?

It's also super interesting to see how the media is framing this as a "conversation about racism and bias"... but isn't it just Angel Reese being cautious because she's been burned in the past? Like, wouldn't we all want to be a little more careful with our words when we're under scrutiny?

Anyway, I'm not gonna take sides or anything... but I do think it's kinda wild that the WNBA investigation cleared her of any wrongdoing, only for her to still feel like she can't trust the media.