Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese made headlines on Monday for her statement about being labeled as ‘the bad guy’.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“I'll take the bad guy role and I'll continue
to take that on…I'll look back in 20 years and be like, yeah, the reason why we watching women's basketball is not just because of one person, it's because of me too and I want you to realize that.”
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) June 3, 2024
“It all started from the national championship game, I’ve been dealing with this for two years now,” said Reese regarding playing the ‘bad guy’. “Understanding that yeah, negative things have probably been said about me. But honestly, I’ll take that because look where women’s basketball is. People are talking about women’s basketball that you’d never think would be talking about women’s basketball. People are pulling up to games, we’ve got celebrities coming to games. Sold out arenas, just because of one single game. And just looking at that, I’ll take that role. I’ll take the bad guy role, and I’ll continue to take that on and be that for my teammates. I’ll look back in 20 years and be like, yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person. It’s because of me, and I want you to realize that.”
That statement went viral, and fans began to take this quote out of context, putting Reese in a bad light. However, it appears that a crucial part to the statement was cut off.
Crazy thing is they cut off right before she said
“a lot of us have done so much for this game and… there are so many other players in this league that have deserved this for a really really long time”
but that doesn’t fit the narrative???? https://t.co/iuJhnfoF7H pic.twitter.com/N8Lrud9qq2
— lilly✨ (@lilly__lover) June 3, 2024
“Its not just because of one person,” Reese added. “A lot of us have done so much for this game…There are so many great players in this league that have deserved this for a really long time, and luckily, it’s coming now.”
Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud replied to Reese’s statement with the following:
They love to villainize a strong black woman. https://t.co/d5FnJ9ucHM
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) June 4, 2024
“They love to villainize a strong black woman,” Cloud said.
Cloud quickly put out another tweet saying the following:
…..and here come all the racist subtweets????
Im finna buss down this seafood boil yall enjoy yall night ????
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) June 4, 2024
“…..and here come all the racist subtweets,” Cloud added. “I’m finna buss down this seafood boil y’all enjoy y’all night.”
It was clear that Reese’s statement was taken out of context. The narrative was twisted, and the rookie showed respect to all of the players in the WNBA for helping move the needle. Certain individual players have had more of an impact in terms of helping the sport gain national traction, but it’s deeper than that. The current players in the league have laid the groundwork — and the incoming rookies are getting set to leave women’s basketball better than they found it.
Cloud has spoken out on a handful of different issues this season, and sticks up for Reese as people took her statement the wrong way.
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
