After receiving two technical fouls in a short period of time during Tuesday’s Chicago Sky game, Angel Reese was dismissed from the game. However, the WNBA apparently revoked one of the technical fouls less than a day later.
The league “has overturned the second technical foul assessed” on Reese, who seemed to wave off an official with less than three minutes remaining in the Sky’s 88-75 loss to the New York Liberty, according to WNBA reporter Khristina Williams’ tweet from today.
While Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon claimed she had no idea why Reese was sent off during her post-game press conference, one of the officials gave an explanation of each technical infraction.
Reese received two technical penalties for “disrespectfully addressing” the official and “waving her hand in dismissal,” according to lead official Maj Forsberg, who spoke with media following the game, according to ESPN’s Michael Voepel.
Reese’s Sky teammate Marina Mabrey, who was also given a technical foul in Tuesday’s game, stated that her rookie post player should take note of her dismissal.
Mabrey remarked, “She got two techs, she said something to the ref” (via ESPN). “He made the decision that he believed to be right. Since we’re still young in the WNBA, it’s more about maintaining composure. You must become familiar with referees and their reactions to situations.
One of the most well-known female college basketball players in recent memory, Angel Reese, experienced a sharp increase in fame while playing for LSU, where she also won a national championship. In terms of media coverage, the Tigers’ tournament matchups with Iowa and Caitlin Clark in the 2023 national championship game and the 2024 Elite 8 proved to be pivotal, and they have contributed to raising awareness of the WNBA, which is expanding rapidly.
The Sky selected Reese with the seventh overall pick in the April 2024 WNBA Draft. The Sky also selected Kamilla Cardoso, a center from South Carolina, with the third overall pick. Despite the short turnaround time following the conclusion of the collegiate basketball season, Reese has impressed thus far as a rookie while Cardoso has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury.
Reese, who has started all eight games, is averaging 10.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per game through the first eight games. Reese leads her team in fouls (3.6 per game), but her efficiency still needs improvement; she is shooting 33.8% from the field and 70.2% from the free-throw line.
As a team, the Sky have also seen ups and downs; they have dropped four of their previous five games. Despite Chicago upsetting the Liberty on the road in their first meeting on May 23, last night’s 13-point loss turned out to be the worst of the season thus far.
After taking today off, Chicago will play the Washington Mystics on the road tomorrow in the Commissioner’s Cup. The team’s last two games in the in-season tournament are scheduled for June 8 and 12, respectively, at home against the Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Sun.
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