Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese ought to be celebrated, not excoriated

Anybody who is aware of something in regards to the sport of basketball can take a look at Angel Reese and acknowledge that she is one hell of a participant.

Not even two months into her rookie season with the Chicago Sky, the No. 7 general choose within the 2024 WNBA Draft already is placing up unimaginable numbers. She’s at the moment averaging 12.1 factors and 10.2 rebounds per sport, has achieved 4 double-doubles and have become the primary rookie this 12 months to realize 100 factors and 100 rebounds.

All of the whereas, she has proven unimaginable maturity and respect for herself, her teammates, her coach and her fellow opponents. The one factor one has to do is watch her play and are available to the simple realization that she was destined for this as a result of her personal combination of fierceness, aptitude and flamboyance.

But when you already know completely nothing in regards to the sport and/or have had long-standing hostilities in the direction of the WNBA and ladies’s sports activities typically, then you definately see her as an epitomization of all that’s supposedly mistaken with sports activities and society at giant. She is perceived as evil and a villain who has earned condemnation, whereas her up to date Caitlin Clark is held up because the savior and a savant who wants safety.

Now let me abundantly clear, having lined Clark at Iowa over the past three years, she has rightfully earned all of the accolades and adulation coming her manner. She is likely one of the most enjoyable athletes of our time and has helped to develop the sport. However she hasn’t performed it by herself. There was Angel Reese proper there with Clark from the 2023 NCAA nationwide championship onward. Their intersecting paths to the professionals have led many to declare this to be the Magic-Chicken rivalry of girls’s basketball.

However whereas Caitlin has been given her flowers, Angel has been given thorns.

Reese has needed to endure racist dying threats. She and her LSU teammates had been known as “Louisiana sizzling sauce” by the Los Angeles Occasions. She and her Sky teammates had been harassed exterior a DC lodge. And she or he’s been accused of “assaulting” Clark in the course of the June 16 Sky-Fever sport when she tried to go for a block, ended up hitting Clark within the head and was assessed a flagrant foul. It is rather clear when watching the replay that she was attempting to go for the ball.

That is an excessive amount of for a 22-year-old to deal with, no matter her social and cultural standing.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, she doesn’t wish to discuss to the media. Frankly, who may blame her? It’s one factor to critique her play and the way it impacts the end result of a sport, however it’s completely different to assault her personhood to the purpose the place she is subjected to such vile and viciousness.

And once more, that is largely coming from individuals who don’t know basketball and who’ve sadly used Clark as a car to specific their disdain for Reese and different Black ladies. The Williams Sisters, Surya Bonaly, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Sha’Carri Richardson, Brittney Griner and different black ladies in sports activities have skilled among the most heinous acts of misogynoir (anti-Black sexism and misogyny) by the likes of media, followers, commentators and trolls on social media.

However historical past has proven that these ladies in the end solidify their place in historical past whereas staying true to themselves. And when all is claimed and performed, that would be the case with Angel Reese. Her great expertise and audacious company will triumph in the long run. It could simply be good if we may acknowledge that now.