Angel Reese: The Reason We’re Watching
Despite popular belief, Angel Reese is absolutely one of the main reasons many women, men, boys, and girls have tuned into the WNBA this season. Yes, we know the greats: Lisa Leslie, Cheryl Swoops, and Candace Parker. Legends. Lisa and Cheryl were before my time, and Candace was during my time. But, like many, I drifted away from the WNBA. Then came 2023, and I was introduced to Bayou Barbie. Angel Reese.
She had game. She was beautiful. She was fiercely feminine in a way not often seen or celebrated in women’s basketball. She broke the mold.
And she’s still breaking it.
So far, Angel has played in 55 regular-season games and recorded 36 career double-doubles — a clear reminder that dominance comes in more forms than flashy three-point shots. She’s averaging around 14 points per game, but let’s be real, stats alone don’t measure impact. Angel started off a bit slow this season, and I don’t blame her. The weight of unnecessary hate, criticism, and constant comparisons could shake even the strongest. But lately? She’s found her footing. She’s balling. She’s rising. She’s responding, not with words, but with performance. And that’s what makes her so dope.
One of my favorite things about Angel Reese is that she is a girl’s girl. She celebrates other women. She supports her teammates. She uplifts those around her. In a world where women are often pitted against each other, Angel leads with a spirit of sisterhood. That energy matters. That energy inspires.
When she returned the “you can’t see me” hand gesture during the game against Caitlin Clark, a rivalry ignited. Not a bitter one, a competitive one. The best part of sports is competition. There’s gotta be a winner and a loser. Both women handled it with grit and grace. But then came the noise, the critiques, the disrespect, and not just from fans.
This post was sparked by the despicable comments RG3 made. How dare he, on such a massive platform, accuse a Black woman of hating Caitlin Clark? It wasn’t just wrong, it was irresponsible. It felt personal, especially with his white wife gleefully cheering in the background. I wish I could say this Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark saga was just about basketball, but that’s a lie. The layers run deeper.
Caitlin Clark can flat out ball. She is skilled, calculated, and undeniably talented. But why does celebrating her have to mean tearing down Angel Reese? Why does Angel get such vile hate? Criticism about her scoring is unfair and often rooted in ignorance. She’s not a point guard; she’s a forward. We’re comparing apples to oranges. The double standards are infuriating. She is scrutinized relentlessly.
What hurts more is watching Black men, especially someone like RG3, use their voice to tear her down. They don’t uplift her. They ignore her struggle, her fight, her presence as a Black woman navigating an unbalanced narrative. Go to any of Angel’s social media accounts and see the disgusting, daily onslaught of hate. It’s sickening.
Maybe now that Paige Bueckers has entered the chat, the conversation will evolve. Maybe because Paige is white and plays the same position as Caitlin Clark, people will finally stop injecting bias and start focusing on the actual game. Maybe then, the hate Angel receives won’t be so easily justified.
I worry about Angel’s mental health. I don’t want the hate to dim her fire. I don’t want her playing scared or second-guessing her instincts because she’s navigating racism, misogyny, and pressure, all while still being so young. Angel Reese deserves every bit of recognition she’s earned. She is the reason I, and many others, tuned back into the WNBA. She made it exciting again.
And let’s talk about the microaggressions. As Black women, even when we’re done wrong, we often have to stay silent. We don’t want to risk being labeled angry, aggressive, or problematic, so we just be quiet. The first time we clap back or speak out, the world suddenly feels justified in its disdain. Angel represents that struggle that many black women go through. She represents so many of us and she looks amazing doing do.
We need to give her grace. We need to uplift her. We need to stop expecting Black women to be flawless in the face of criticism that others never have to deal with. Let’s be real, Caitlin, Angel, Paige, they are all still young women. Their defining moments are playing out under the world’s microscope. They all deserve grace.
But today, this post is about Angel.
If Angel Reese herself read this, I hope it would make her smile. I hope she will feel the love, the admiration, and the deep respect.
Because she deserves it.
Black women deserve it.
And Angel Reese is proof that grace, grit, and greatness can all coexist, while the entire world is watching.
