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Angel Reese begins her WNBA season with the Atlanta Dream, aiming to reset her reputation. She supports avoiding unfriendly media, even if it means incurring fines.
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Angel Reese begins her third WNBA season on Saturday, May 9, with a new team, the Atlanta Dream.
The star center hopes to reset her reputation after a trade away from the Chicago Sky. Reese often bristled at treatment by some segments of the media, particularly when placed in opposition to fellow WNBA star Caitlin Clark.
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In fact, Reese said she might opt to take fines from the league instead of speaking to unfriendly media members.
âThe media has not always been great for me,â Reese said last month on âIMO,â former first lady Michelle Obamaâs podcast. âIâll have a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall.â
Reese has a prominent supporter in former U.S. Womenâs National Soccer Team star Megan Rapinoe, per Awful Announcing.
âI think Angel is a really great example of her taking her power back,â Rapinoe said during a recent episode of her podcast âA Touch More.â
âAngel was set up as a villain before she was even in the WNBA, and now sheâs making it clear that sheâs gonna protect her peace. The media landscape is changing rapidly in womenâs sports, and of course, the W, as always, is out front.â
Rapinoe, who retired from international play after the 2023 Womenâs World Cup, is no stranger to media scrutiny. Her outspoken activism has included a demand for equal pay for women in sports, opposition to President Donald J. Trump and advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights.
Last month, Rapinoe and former partner Sue Bird after 10 years together.
Angel Reese is avoiding media to protect her mental health and reset her reputation after negative experiences with some media members.
Angel Reese is playing for the Atlanta Dream in the 2023 WNBA season.
Angel Reese expressed that the media has not always treated her well and would prefer to incur fines rather than face unfriendly media interactions.

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For her part, Reese skipped end-of-season media obligations with the Sky in 2025 after the team fined her for criticizing roster construction in a Chicago Tribune interview.
âI feel like this was obviously something Angel is doing for herself because of her personal experience, but I think this is a great example for all athletes and all female athletes of, âI donât really have to do this,ââ Rapinoe said.
âIt might mean I get a fine, but at some point, we have to adjust the expectations that journalists can just go up there and throw any kind of narrative, and weâre the ones, athletes are the ones who are going to either field that or dispel that or say itâs not true or try and combat it.â
Reese debuts for the Dream at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on the road against the Minnesota Lynx.