Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese says she prefers paying league fines over attending post-game media duties, explaining that her words are often twisted or taken out of context.
The 22-year-old made the comment on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, where she discussed her uneasy relationship with the press.
Reese’s frustration reportedly began after an interview with the Chicago Tribune, during which she questioned whether the Sky had the right mix of players to compete for a championship. The remark sparked criticism, forcing her to later clarify that her comments were “taken out of context.”
Since then, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year runner-up said she’s decided to limit her media appearances for peace of mind.
She said, “Even before the game, like I’m terrified of what the media is about to ask. Like it could be the nicest question, but it’s going to get flipped or put into a different light or a different perspective. And it’s like, are you here intentionally to start mess or are you intentionally here to ask the question? And it’s really tough for me, especially in the media. It’s like, I don’t want to do an interview with anybody.”
Reese admitted she still enjoys speaking to a few reporters she trusts but remains wary of how stories are spun.
“Like I get excited for certain people like a Taylor, like certain, certain people I know I can talk to, but like certain I’ll take the fine. Like I literally would take the, I’d rather take the fine.
“Seriously. I’d rather take the fine sometimes rather than talking to the media because it always gets flipped. And I think that’s where media has gotten these days.”
The young forward also criticised the online culture of sensationalising athletes’ words.
“Like you could literally post the sky was blue and Angel said that is too dark. That’s like stuff like that, you know? So I think it just, for me, like the media is like really scary, like that’s why I’ve never been on anybody else’s podcast. I’m scared to do stuff like that because I know how things could get flipped. Yeah.”
“I’d rather take the fine than face the media because it always gets flipped,” Reese reiterated.
