Due to their connection to Maryland, rookie forward Angel Reese expressed her excitement to play against Alyssa Thomas before to the Chicago Sky's 86-82 defeat to the Connecticut Sun on Saturday. It seems that Thomas thought otherwise.
Reese was fighting Thomas for a rebound beneath the hoop late in the third quarter when Thomas grabbed her by the neck and tossed her to the floor. Reese took a hard blow on the back of her skull on the ground, but she was unharmed and continued to play. After reviewing the scenario on the monitor right after, the officials elevated Thomas' foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic expulsion.
Reese, on the other hand, had nothing against Thomas in her heart. She even expressed her gratitude to her in the press conference after the game.
Reese said, "It is not just because I am a rookie," about the foul. "I am an operator. My sport is basketball. If I am a novice, it makes no difference to them. Really, I want them to attack me and everyone else on a daily basis. They should not be good to me, after all. I hope that is clear to everyone. It is not my place to be kind to me or to lie down just because I am a rookie or Angel Reese.
"I would want to express my gratitude to A.T. for giving me a note since it inspired me to get back up and keep trying. Since we moved to Maryland, A.T. and I have gotten along well, so I am sure there are no bitter feelings. She challenges me every day, and I enjoy that."
Following her selection No. 7 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft last month, Reese has had a great start to the season. She concluded the game with 13 points and five rebounds. She leads all rookies in scoring and rebounding with an average of 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season.
Reese was fighting Thomas for a rebound beneath the hoop late in the third quarter when Thomas grabbed her by the neck and tossed her to the floor. Reese took a hard blow on the back of her skull on the ground, but she was unharmed and continued to play. After reviewing the scenario on the monitor right after, the officials elevated Thomas' foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic expulsion.
Reese, on the other hand, had nothing against Thomas in her heart. She even expressed her gratitude to her in the press conference after the game.
Reese said, "It is not just because I am a rookie," about the foul. "I am an operator. My sport is basketball. If I am a novice, it makes no difference to them. Really, I want them to attack me and everyone else on a daily basis. They should not be good to me, after all. I hope that is clear to everyone. It is not my place to be kind to me or to lie down just because I am a rookie or Angel Reese.
"I would want to express my gratitude to A.T. for giving me a note since it inspired me to get back up and keep trying. Since we moved to Maryland, A.T. and I have gotten along well, so I am sure there are no bitter feelings. She challenges me every day, and I enjoy that."
Following her selection No. 7 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft last month, Reese has had a great start to the season. She concluded the game with 13 points and five rebounds. She leads all rookies in scoring and rebounding with an average of 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this season.
