Sabrina Ionescu Blasts The WNBA For “Dropping The Ball” On Angel Reese After Controversial Decision

Photo of Sabrina Ionescu at press conference and photo of Angel Reese holding basketballSabrina Ionescu and Angel Reese (Photos via Getty Images)
Sabrina Ionescu is among those criticizing the WNBA for not giving Angel Reese’s debut the same platform Caitlin Clark’s got.

Both rookies were in action for their teams on Friday, with Clark’s Indiana Fever playing the Dallas Wings while Reese’s Chicago Sky faced off with the Minnesota Lynx. The Fever game was all over the internet, but that wasn’t the case for the Sky.

The WNBA opted not to stream Reese’s game, though she’s the second-biggest name coming from college.

A fan streamed the game from their phone via social media. It reportedly garnered close to a million viewers, so Ionescu reckons the league failed to take advantage of a huge opportunity.

Sabrina Ionescu Slams The WNBA For Dropping The Ball With Angel Reese’s First Game

Speaking to reporters during the New York Liberty’s Media Day, the former Oregon star slammed the WNBA and urged better representation for all players.

“I mean, it sucks,” she said, per the New York Post. “I think representation of every team is important. … Hopefully, the league can fix that because I think they dropped the ball on that part and hopefully they have a great explanation as to why that wasn’t televised. But hats off to the person that just figured it out.”

While many fans have been calling the league out for not streaming Angel Reese’s debut, they might take notice now that one of their own stars has become a detractor on said front.

Of course, it was only a preseason game, but the WNBA would do well to hold up its end of the bargain after asking fans to show more support.

Surely, putting both rookies on show on Friday night would have been in their best interest.

VIDEO: Security Guard Caught In 4K Risking It All As Angel Reese Walked Past Him At The WNBA Draft

Angel Reese walks into the WNBA Draft.Angel Reese (via @GeauxLSUH Twitter)
Angel Reese came to the WNBA Draft knowing all eyes would be on her due to her outfit.

With the WNBA Draft happening on Monday night, Angel Reese came dressed to impress for the occasion. Following a trip with the draftees to the Empire State Building on Monday morning, everyone prepared for the big night.

In a video shared by the WNBA’s social media, Angel Reese stunned in a black and silver dress ahead of the draft. Her backless shiny dress also featured a hoodie that the former LSU Tigers star could be seen rocking. The Bayou Barbie parlayed the dress with Louis Vuitton shoes and a silver bracelet on each wrist.

One person who loved how that dress looked on Angel Reese was a security guard at the draft that was being held at the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music.

One video showed Reese walking through a metal detector, and once she got far enough, a security guard on her right averted his eyes down at her body.

 

Reese had an outstanding career at LSU in just a short amount of time.

Also Read: Angel Reese Net Worth 2024: How Wealthy Is the College Basketball Star?

Reese led the Tigers to a national championship in 2023 and was twice voted to the All-SEC First Team during her two seasons with the team. She also won SEC Player of the Year in 2024. Although Reese nearly guided the Tigers to consecutive championships, this year’s squad was eliminated in the Elite Eight by Iowa Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark.

After losing in the NCAA Tournament, Angel Reese officially declared for the WNBA Draft earlier this month.

“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” Reese said in Vogue. “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro — and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I’m ready.”

She continued: “I’ll be working with grown women. I’ll be working with women that have kids, women that have a family to feed. I’m going to have to work my butt off every single day and grind. And who wouldn’t want that? I don’t want anything in my life to be easy.”

Reese’s season ended with 34 double-doubles, the most in NCAA history, as she averaged 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game over 33 games played.

Reese’s season ended with 34 double-doubles, the most in NCAA history, as she averaged 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game over 33 games played.

Angel Reese is Headed To Chicago

Angel Reese (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The Chicago Sky selected LSU star Angel Reese seventh overall on Monday night. That pick came after the team took South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso No. 3 overall.

Reese will now continue her career by being coached by Teresa Weatherspoon, the Sky’s new head coach and a Hall of Famer who played for the New York Liberty.

Reese’s popularity is a perfect addition to the WNBA.