Angel Reese Fined by WNBA for Media Policy Violation Following Chicago Sky Game
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has been fined $1,000 by the WNBA for failing to make herself available to the media after the team’s 71–70 loss to the Indiana Fever on June 1. Additionally, the Chicago Sky organization was fined $5,000 for not ensuring compliance with the league’s media policies.
The incident occurred during a highly anticipated matchup between Reese and Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, marking their first professional meeting. Reese contributed eight points and 13 rebounds in the game. Postgame, she did not participate in media interviews, despite multiple requests from reporters.
This fine comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Chicago Sky’s adherence to league protocols. In the same game, teammate Chennedy Carter delivered a hard shoulder-check to Clark, which was later upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul upon league review. Reese was seen applauding the play from the bench and was the first to greet Carter as the quarter ended.
The WNBA’s media access policy mandates that each team make two key players and the head coach available for postgame interviews within 10 minutes of the game’s conclusion. While Carter, rookie center Kamilla Cardoso, and coach Teresa Weatherspoon addressed the media, Reese did not, leading to the fine.
This is not the first time Reese has faced disciplinary action this season. Earlier, she was ejected from a game against the New York Liberty after receiving two technical fouls for disagreeing with an official. However, the WNBA later rescinded the second technical foul, reducing her fine from $400 to $200.
Despite these incidents, Reese continues to be a prominent figure in the league, both for her on-court performances and her significant social media presence, boasting 4.9 million Instagram followers, the highest among WNBA players.
The Chicago Sky will look to move past these controversies as they prepare for their upcoming games.
