It’s turning out to be the same old story for the Chicago Sky this season. Angel Reese has been the lone fighter once again, as was the case last season, being a beast off the boards while also adding to their creativity this year. Her points tally is decent as well, making her a prime contributor in all aspects. She lit up the court against the table-toppers Minnesota Lynx, scoring 16 points, while dishing out 6 assists and going about her day-to-day on the boards, grabbing 17 rebounds.
However, that was not enough as the Sky fell to a 5-12 record with an 80-75 loss. That loss was particularly frustrating as they led 24-10 after the first quarter but eventually gave up that lead to a resilient Lynx side. The frustration was twofold as Reese felt the loss was because of a lack of calls, and that the Lynx were allowed to get away with more physicality on the defensive end.
She said in the press conference, “Um, it’s tough when you talk to officials, and I asked them, “Hey, we only shot two free throws. We’ve only been to the free throw line twice up into the fourth quarter, and she tells me it’s not her job.” She further said, “And I don’t give a damn if I get fine because that s*** cheap. And I am tired of the cuz I’ve been nice and I’ve been humble with it. But I am tired of this sh**”
Reese didn’t stop there. She took to Twitter, reposting an image of a physical rebound and captioning it “diabolical,” while also calling on the league to “do better.” This wasn’t Angel Reese’s first run-in with the referees. Last year, she was ejected from a game after receiving two technical fouls following a brief exchange with official Charles Watson. She appeared to say something to the referee and then waved her hand, which quickly escalated the situation.
While one of the technical fouls was later rescinded by the league, the incident left a lasting impression. Her latest outburst stirred those memories for fans, reminding them that Angel Reese has never shied away from calling out what she sees as unfair officiating. While she may be penalized by the league in the future for her rant, the star forward is receiving support from the WNBA fandom.
Fans Offer Support To Reese After Her Anti-Referee Outburst
Angel Reese is not the first person to go off on the referees this season. Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum erupted multiple times this season. After an overtime defeat to the Valkyries, she called the officiating “absurd,” noting her six free-throw attempts despite physical contact and visible scratches. Plum received support from the WNBA community at the time, and Reese is also getting the same.
Good for her. CC KP Coach and now AR. Maybe we getting closer to fixing 1 issue
— kam52 (@kam454748) July 7, 2025
“The refs ignore a lot of fouls when it comes to Angel Reese, they need to keep it for all the players and stop swallowing their whistles against the Sky.” wrote one fan. There was a considerable disparity between the Lynx (17 attempts) and the Sky (8 attempts) at the line on Sunday. That is a 9-attempt gap that essentially cost Sky the game. Reese is arguably the most active player in the paint as she leads the league in rebounds. She is in the thick of the action for almost every play and should be getting more fouls than she does. Reese attempts just 4.4 free throws per game which is just the 6th most among forwards.
“The fouls on Reese last night was crazy, if this was any other popular player or team, everyone would be raging about it and attacking the refs but bc it’s Angel and shes on the Sky, she’s expected to let it go and just allow ppl to foul her?” Wrote another fan.
This perspective reflects a widespread belief among fans that their favorite players are unfairly treated, a narrative echoed across nearly every fan base. While many argue that specific stars are being targeted, the real issue appears to be the overall inconsistency and quality of officiating, a problem that has been discussed in the league for years. Statistically, the Sky rank 10th in the WNBA in free throw attempts per game this season, lending some weight to Reese’s frustration. However, there’s no concrete evidence suggesting she is being singled out by officials.
“Refs not calling the obvious fouls when Angel Reese is getting HACKED on offensive rebound put-backs, is Sabotaging her career. Not Putting Angel On The Free Throws Line Is Keeping Her From SHATTERING even MORE records in such an early start in her career.” wrote another fan.
Angel Reese has been on a record-breaking run this season, dominating the boards with unmatched consistency. The Chicago Sky forward has grabbed between 16 and 19 rebounds in each of her last five games, setting a new WNBA record for the longest streak of games with 15 or more rebounds. Her ability to control the glass has become a defining feature of her game. While her scoring has been more restrained compared to her rebounding, she is still averaging a respectable 13.3 points per game. With more opportunities at the free-throw line, her strong free-throw percentage of 75.45 percent could help elevate her scoring numbers even further.
“Good for Angel Reese. The refs are terrible and she hardly gets calls.” Wrote another fan. The referees have not been able to win over the players and coaches throughout the season. Complaints from Stephanie White and Kelsey Plum, along with a few others, may cause the league to take action. It may not be this season, but such repeated call-outs from star players and backlash from fans on social media may eventually force the WNBA’s hand.
That said, the officiating trend Reese is facing is not unique to her or to the WNBA. It is a pattern seen across both men’s and women’s basketball. For a Sky team that lacks elite guard play capable of consistently breaking down defenses and drawing fouls on drives, being at a free-throw disadvantage is almost inevitable. That reality makes Reese’s frustration all the more understandable. As one of the team’s primary offensive anchors in the paint, she absorbs a high level of physical contact, much of which often goes uncalled.
In the end, Angel Reese’s outspoken criticism has reignited a broader conversation about officiating standards in the WNBA. Her dominance on the court is undeniable, and the mounting support she’s receiving highlights a growing frustration with how physical play is being managed. If the league continues to face public pressure from its brightest stars, it may soon be forced to confront its officiating inconsistencies, not just for Reese, but for the integrity of the game itself.
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