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Angel Reese wants fans of women’s basketball to recognize that she and her teammates have significantly contributed to the sport’s increasing popularity.
The WNBA star discussed the Chicago Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday, June 1, and Caitlin Clark’s influence on the league while speaking to reporters on Monday, June 3.
"So many people are watching women’s basketball now. It all startedwith the national championship game, and I’ve been dealing with this for two years now. Yes, negative things have been said about me, but I’ll take that because look where women’s basketball is now," she said.
"People are talking about women’s basketball who you’d never expect. Celebrities are attending games, arenas are selling out, all because of one game," Reese continued. "I'll take the role of the 'bad guy' if it means bringing attention to the sport. I’ll be that for my teammates and know I’ll go down in history."
"In 20 years, I’ll look back and say, 'The reason we’re watching women’s basketball isn’t just because of one person, it’s because of me too.' It’s not just one person; many of us have contributed a lot to this game."
Reese, the seventh pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, was fined $1,000 for not making herself available to the media after Saturday’s game, according to statements from the WNBA reported by the Associated Press and The New York Times.
"The Sky organization has also been fined $5,000 for failing to ensure that all players comply with WNBA media policies," the league’s statement added. Additionally, Reese's teammate, ChennedyCarter, received a flagrant 1 violation for a foul on Clark in the third quarter.
Addressing reporters on Monday, Reese took "accountability" for not speaking to the media. "That was something I couldn't do at the moment due to the timeline, but moving forward, I’ll make sure to take time for you guys," she said.
Angel Reese wants fans of women’s basketball to recognize that she and her teammates have significantly contributed to the sport’s increasing popularity.
