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Robert Griffin III makes Angel Reese blush again after her reaction to Caitlin Clark and brings Chennedy Carter into the picture

Caitlin Clark‘s dazzling triple-double during the Indiana Fever‘s 93-58 blowout win over the Chicago Sky should have been the defining moment of the WNBA‘s season opener. But as has often been the case with Clark and her chief rival Angel Reese, the spotlight shifted away from the basketball and onto controversy. T

his time, it stemmed from a third-quarter flagrant foul committed by Clark, and an emotionally charged reaction from Reese that instantly became a viral talking point.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wasn’t shy about weighing in. During a recent episode of his podcast “Outta Pocket with RGIII,” he dissected the altercation and argued that Reese’s visible outburst confirmed what he’s long believed: that the Chicago forward harbors genuine animosity toward Caitlin Clark.

“You guys remember last year when Angel Reese celebrated Chennedy Carter getting that flagrant foul on the hip check against Caitlin Clark? You remember that?” Griffin asked. “On the sideline, just, yeah, baby, get her, you get her. Who celebrates like that for a flagrant foul on another player if they don’t dislike that player?”

Griffin says Reese’s bias toward Clark is clear

Griffin’s argument hinged on what he described as inconsistent behavior from Reese depending on who’s involved.

He referenced a moment from the 2024 season when Reese was violently fouled by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun – an incident that led to Thomas receiving a flagrant two and an automatic ejection. In that case, Reese remained relatively calm.

“So, where was this type of reaction last year, when Angel Reese got chokeslammed by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun?” Griffin continued. “Y’all remember that? She got fouled so hard, they kicked Alyssa Thomas out the game with a flagrant two foul. What did Angel Reese do? Nothing. She didn’t get up and try to swing on her.”

According to Griffin, Reese’s comparatively tame response to a more dangerous hit – contrasted with her escalation of what he called a “routine” foul by Clark – highlights what he views as personal disdain toward the Indiana star.

After securing a win in each of their first two preseason games, Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky couldn’t finish with an undefeated record, falling to 2-1.

On Saturday, Reese and the Sky suffered a 92-87 loss to Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx in their 2025 WNBA preseason finale.

With the regular season less than a week away, the Sky needed to release some players to cut their roster down to the WNBA maximum of 12.

In order to get to this number, Chicago was forced to cut three players on Sunday, including forward Morgan Bertsch, guard Alex Wilson and center Jessika Carter, per Sky reporter Karli Bell.

“The Chicago Sky have waived Morgan Bertsch, Alex Wilson and Jessika Carter,” Bell wrote on X. “This means that rookie draft pick Maddy Westbeld has made the 2025 roster.”

The Chicago Sky selected Hailey Van Lith with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, reuniting Van Lith with her former LSU women’s basketball teammate, Angel Reese. During a recent interview with WGN News, Van Lith revealed one part of Reese’s game that she believes gets overlooked.

“Me and Angel picked up right where we left off,” Van Lith said. “We had, like, a team dinner last night and we were cracking jokes all dinner. She’s great energy. I think one thing about Angel that a lot of people don’t give her credit for is… she does have, like, a selfless leader mindset. Like, she has went out of her way to make sure that my mindset is right, that my energy is right. That I’m feeling comfortable.

“So yeah, it was great to get out there with Angel again… All the vets have been, like, super encouraging to me.”

Hailey Van Lith excited to reunite with Angel Reese

Van Lith endured a down season in her one year at LSU. She had previously found success at Louisville before transferring to LSU, but her time with the Tigers did not go according to plan. Van Lith then transferred to TCU for her final college basketball campaign, and that decision ended up working out.

The guard enjoyed a bounce back campaign, cementing herself as a legitimate first-round pick candidate in the draft. Sure enough, the Sky selected Van Lith No. 11 overall.

Hailey Van Lith and Angel Reese

Van Lith believes that Chicago presents her with a tremendous opportunity to find success. The fit has potential without question, as she can learn from veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot while also feeling comfortable playing alongside Angel Reese.

“It’s a perfect environment for me to be successful so hopefully I can make an impact and be a part of a great program,” Van Lith added.

Angel Reese’s underrated leadership prowess

As Van Lith mentioned, Reese is a leader. Van Lith does not believe Reese always receives enough credit for her leadership prowess. It is clear that the rookie respects Reese. In just her second year in the league, Angel has earned respect around the WNBA.

It remains to be seen if Hailey Van Lith will start in her rookie season. Even if she does initially come off the bench, Van Lith could possibly earn a starting role as the ’25 campaign moves forward. Van Lith’s first year in the league will present her with a great opportunity to learn from established players such as Angel Reese and Courtney Vandersloot.

Paige Bueckers & Angel Reese on the Same Boat as National Analyst Predicts Bleak WNBA Start for Golden State Valkyries

It’s wild to think about, but LSU and UConn haven’t played each other in women’s college basketball for almost a decade. The last meeting was on November 20, 2016. When UConn dominated LSU 76-53, led by 28 points from future WNBA star Katie Lou Samuelson. Since then, their paths never crossed. While a Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese rivalry stole the spotlight during their college days, a Paige Bueckers vs. Angel Reese showdown never had its moment. That is, until now.

Now, that matchup is coming to life on the pro stage. But not quite how fans might’ve expected. Instead of battling for WNBA dominance, both Paige and Angel find themselves in a strange spot—at the center of two franchises fighting just to stay above water.

And that’s the twist. Both the Dallas Wings and the Chicago Sky are loaded with talent, but they’ve also become prime examples of what Rachel, the national analyst on Courtside, called “teams that could float around the playoff bubble all season.” Why? As she explains, “They also had a lot of moving parts this season.”

Those “moving parts” are more than just trade rumors or coaching switches. They represent major shake-ups—roster overhauls, star exits, new leadership, and rookies with sky-high expectations.

Let’s start with Chicago. The Sky are in rebuild mode, but not in the way that signals a total collapse. It’s more like a messy renovation. They’ve got a new head coach, returning legends, exciting rookies, and gaping holes to patch up. Courtney Vandersloot is back in the Windy City after two years in New York—a full-circle moment for a franchise icon. Drafted third overall in 2011, Vandersloot helped lead Chicago to its first WNBA title in 2021. She cemented her place in team history as one of the most consistent floor generals the league has ever seen.

But this isn’t 2021. Vandersloot is 35 now. She’s still got the vision and poise, but the team around her? It’s young. It’s unproven. And it’s still finding chemistry. Angel Reese, though? She already looks like she’s earned her spot in the starting lineup. And she’s not alone. Kamilla Cardoso, another promising rookie, has the physical tools to dominate. Hailey Van Lith brings her spark and swagger. But it’s what they lost that’s harder to replace.

Chennedy Carter was that team’s heartbeat last year. She was electric. The 2024 Guard of the Year, she dropped 17.5 points per game with flair and force, ending the season averaging 32 points per game, 3 steals, and over 31 minutes on the floor. She made Chicago dangerous. Her departure stings. As Rachel put it, “She was a pivotal piece in Chicago.” That kind of production doesn’t just get replaced with optimism. “I’m just not sure how this team is going to gel together,” Rachel added, hinting at the lingering uncertainty.

So now the burden falls on Tyler Marsh. He’s stepping into his first year as HC, but he’s no stranger to championship basketball. His past work with the Toronto Raptors and Las Vegas Aces earned him respect. But now? He’s got to build something from scratch.

Angel Reese

And then there’s Dallas. Like Chicago, the Wings are riding on potential, but not without turbulence. “They picked up NaLyssa Smith, DiJonai Carrington,” Rachel pointed out, highlighting one of the offseason’s most intriguing roster shakeups. NaLyssa Smith, a top draft pick just a couple years ago, became the odd one out with the Indiana Fever’s new power duo of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.

During her stint with the Fever, Smith showed flashes of dominance—averaging 13 points, 8 boards, and over 1 assist per game—but never quite clicked into full star mode. The trade to Dallas gives her a fresh canvas, and a chance to reunite with her girlfriend, Carrington. If Smith thrives, the Wings’ front office might just breathe a little easier after losing both Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard.

But Dallas has something else going for them—a brand-new franchise centerpiece in Paige Bueckers. “Obviously Paige Bueckers is going into the mix,” Rachel said, and she’s not wrong. Paige was a star at UConn. Her poise, scoring, and clutch play won over fans everywhere. Now, the Wings are betting big on her bringing that same magic to the WNBA.

And it might work. Especially alongside Arike Ogunbowale. Last season, defenses keyed in on Arike. Sabally’s shoulder injury limited her to just 15 games, which meant Arike often had to play superhero just to keep the team in games. But this year, Bueckers gives her a real scoring partner. “Playing alongside Arike,” as Rachel said, Bueckers brings that versatility—able to attack from deep, slice into the paint, or shake defenders off the dribble.

Still, the Wings are not just banking on talent. They’ve also changed up their leadership. Chris Koclanes is now the HC, stepping into the spotlight after years as a defensive specialist with the Sun and Sparks. He reunites with GM Mike Miller, who brings his own deep résumé as a longtime coach and executive in the league. Together, they’re trying to build something new around Bueckers.

So that’s the picture. Two teams. Two rising stars. Two question marks. But while all eyes are on Reese and Bueckers and whether their teams can figure it out in time, there’s another team looming in the shadows.

Enter: the Golden State Valkyries.

Why It Could Be a “Rocky Road” WNBA Start for the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries have generated considerable buzz since their inception. With record-breaking ticket sales and a trio of exciting rookies—Justė Jocytė, Shyanne Sellers, and Kaitlyn Chen—the expansion squad seems poised to make an impact. However, WNBA analyst Rachel sees potential challenges ahead for the team as they work to build a competitive foundation.

Rachel believes that the Valkyries could struggle in their inaugural season, saying, “They can be a bottom, tier team.” The biggest hurdle? They’re starting from scratch. Without an established team chemistry or proven system, the Valkyries face a steep uphill battle. “What that brand of basketball is going to be, what style of play they are going to have, is yet to be seen,” Rachel explained. This uncertainty could be particularly damaging in the early stages of the season, as other teams fine-tune their rotations, while the Valkyries will still be trying to define their identity.

While Rachel acknowledged that the Valkyries “did do pretty well in the draft,” she also pointed out that success in the draft doesn’t immediately translate into victories on the court. In a league as competitive as the WNBA, rookies face a steep learning curve. As Rachel emphasized, “That success in the draft doesn’t magically erase the fact that building a competitive team takes time.”

Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes, speaking with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe in February, noted that players have the opportunity to “set the tone right away to show what we want that to be.” However, until the Valkyries’ team identity settles in, they could struggle to compete against well-established squads with defined systems.

Another complication for the Valkyries is navigating the expansion draft. Thanks to WNBA and CBA rules, they could only select one unprotected player from each of the existing teams, and several teams had more than six protected players due to the “core” designation. This significantly limited their options and added an extra layer of difficulty to the roster-building process.

On the bright side, Rachel believes the Valkyries will develop a passionate fan base. “I do think the Golden State Valkyries are going to have a great fan base… their fans are going to be really excited to watch this team,” she said. However, in a league where experience matters and the pressure to perform mounts fast, excitement alone won’t guarantee success. For the Golden State Valkyries, the road ahead will be rocky, and their journey could start bumpy.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese is gearing up for her second WNBA season while also taking part in the inaugural year of the Unrivaled League.

Rose also hosts a weekly podcast called “Unapologetically Angel” which also features a lot of notable soundbites.

In a new episode of the show, Reese made a surprising admission from her childhood days.

“You know I used to call the police when I was a kid,” Reese said. “My mom used to get pissed. I used to call the police on my babysitter.

“I was calling the police on her,” Reese continued. “I didn’t want to stay there. I didn’t want her watching me, that’s why.”

Reese kept saying her mom used to be “pissed” about her calling the police, and eventually she stopped doing it.

“She said if I call the police one more time she going to let them take me,” Reese said about how her mom.

Right after that, Reese revealed her mom drafted up fake paperwork to send her and her brother to a foster home because they were acting bad.

It was an extremely candid clip from Reese about her childhood, although the Sky star admitted she was “scared” after seeing the fake foster care papers.

As far far basketball goes, Reese’s Unrivaled team, the Rose, face off against the Mist on Saturday.

Angel Reese played just seven minutes before being ejected during Rose BC’s Unrivaled game against Laces BC on Sunday, but that didn’t prevent her from getting recognition.

Reese was thrown out of the contest late in the second quarter following a foul on Tiffany Hayes. The Sky forward proceeded to wave her hand in the direction of both Hayes and the referee, which prompted the official to issue a technical foul.

The 22-year-old double-double machine then argued with the official, earning her second technical foul and causing her ejection from the contest.

Despite her brief time on the floor, though, Reese was able to grab 15 total rebounds, along with six points and three assists. Her dominance on the glass earned her the rebounding leader recognition for the game, as Rose BC went on to win, 83-69.

No other player in the game reached double digits in rebounding.

“Angel Reese has been named Opill’s leading rebounder of the night DESPITE early ejection!” Rose BC announced on social media.

For what it’s worth, Angel Reese was clearly not happy with her ejection. Following the game, she sent out a series of posts on X where her frustration was clear.

“free me,” Reese wrote alongside a video of her watching Saturday’s game following her exit.

“sayless,” she wrote in another post.

While it’s not the best day for Reese, the important thing is that they won. Now, her team has improved to 2-4 on the season.

BATON ROUGE – LSU is set to host a WNBA Preseason Game between the Chicago Sky and the Brazil National Team on May 2 at 7 p.m. CT in the PMAC as LSU star Angel Reese makes her return to Baton Rouge. Tickets will be available on LSUtix.net at a later date.

“We are excited to host a WNBA game in May featuring the Chicago Sky and Angel Reese,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “Angel played a major role in establishing our program at LSU and I know our fans are going to be excited to have her back in the PMAC. She had such a great rookie season and we can’t wait to continue to watch her thrive in the WNBA.”

“I’m very excited the Sky will play a preseason game at LSU,” Reese said. “It will be amazing to return to Baton Rouge, a community that means so much to me. LSU was instrumental in preparing me for the WNBA and I can’t wait to hit the court in front of both Tigers and Sky fans!”

Reese had a great run at LSU, leading the Tigers to their first NCAA Championship in 2023. She set the NCAA record with 34 double-doubles throughout the national championship season.

She was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 23.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks in her junior season.

Reese went on to be named SEC Player of the Year (2024), a three-time AP All-American (2022-24), two-time First Team All-SEC member (2023-24), two-time SEC All-Defense honoree (2023-24) and a 2024 Wooden Award All-American Team member.

In 2024, Reese led the SEC in scoring (18.6 points) and rebounds (13.4) for the second consecutive season, becoming the first player since Wendy Scholtens from Vanderbilt (1989-90) to lead the league in both stats over consecutive seasons.

Angel Reese

Reese finished her LSU career with the third-most points in a single season in LSU history (829 in 2023) and as the program leader in career rebounds per game (14.4).

LSU Women’s Basketball in the Polls:

LSU fell two spots to No. 7 in Monday’s latest AP Poll after splitting games at No. 2 South Carolina on Friday and against Texas A&M on Sunday.

The Tigers are back for two more games in the PMAC this week. LSU will host No. 13 Oklahoma on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT for the annual white out game on ESPN2. The Tigers will then host Mississippi State on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

AP Poll – January 27, 2025

  1. UCLA
  2. South Carolina
  3. Notre Dame
  4. USC
  5. Texas
  6. UConn
  7. LSU
  8. Ohio State
  9. TCU
  10. Duke
  11. Kansas State
  12. Kentucky
  13. Oklahoma
  14. Maryland
  15. North Carolina
  16. Michigan State
  17. NC State
  18. Tennessee
  19. Cal
  20. Georgia Tech
  21. West Virginia
  22. Alabama
  23. Vanderbilt
  24. Oklahoma State
  25. Florida State

More LSU News:

Angel Reese Sparks Debate Over Finances After Celebrating Her Mother’s Birthday With A Shocking Gift

Angel Reese has once again sparked a major debate over her finances after revealing she wants her mother to retire from working during a new podcast episode.

The Chicago Sky basketball player has been a trending topic since her national championship win with the LSU Tigers in 2023. Her attitude, style, and impressive rebounding ability on the court attracted many eyes, which launched the 22-year-old into superstardom.

Since becoming an NCAA champion, Reese has garnered several sponsorships—her latest being a special meal deal with McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food restaurant. Although the details of Reese’s deal haven’t been disclosed, one can only assume she collected a hefty check, which prompted her to do something special for her mother.

During a recent episode of her podcast, Angel Reese surprised her mom with the dream of a lifetime, which caused quite a stir on social media.

Angel Reese Paid Off Her Mother’s Mortgage

Reese has always credited her mother (also named Angel Reese) for her drive on the basketball court. Both of the WNBA players’ parents knew their way up and down the hardwood.

Reese’s mother played at the University of Maryland before joining a professional team in Luxembourg. “I used to go to my mom’s games when I was younger,” the Chicago Sky power forward said in 2023.

She praised her mom for being “independent” as a single parent, saying, “she molded that into me,” before reminding fans that she’s the person she is today because of her mother.

On the latest episode of her podcast, “Unapologetically Angel,” Reese had her mother on the show to celebrate her birthday. After spending much of the episode discussing Reese’s rise to fame and life in the spotlight, Reese spent the final minutes telling her mom how much she meant to her.

The Bayou Barbie went on, reminding her listeners that it was her mother’s birthday. However, before singing and celebrating with cake, Reese had to make a special announcement.

“Before we sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ you said that if your mortgage was paid off that you would retire or you won’t work,” she said. “You can pick if you want to work still, [but] your mortgage today has been paid.”

Reese explained to her mother that she wouldn’t have to “worry about your mortgage no more” before telling her she could continue to work if she wanted to “keep yourself busy;” however, it wouldn’t be necessary.

Fans Respond To Angel Reese’s Move

Angel Reese

After the clip of Reese’s special moment with her mother was shared online, people began chiming in, wondering if this was the smartest move for the young athlete.

“Is this the same person who said they couldn’t afford to pay their rent?” someone asked on X, formerly Twitter.

“I thought she was complaining about being in debt, not making enough money, etc.,” someone else posted. A third user also shared their response, saying Reese had to be “broke after that one” since she doesn’t “get paid that much.”

However, not all of the comments were negative.

Someone wrote, “She retired her mother at the age of 22,” implying that Reese pulled off a major flex. Another user noted that the heartwarming interaction between the mother-daughter duo “made their day,” especially since children “dream to give back everything their parents poured into them.”

How Much Money Does Reese Make?

Reese was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky during the 2024 WNBA draft. According to SportRac, the rookie earned just over $73,000 for her first season.

However, thanks to sponsorships with Beats by Dre, Reeses, Cash App, and more, Reese said she considers that check a “bonus.”

The baller also signed a lengthy contract with Reebok Basketball, headed by her mentor Shaquille O’Neal, which will bring her first signature shoe to stores in 2026.

In January 2025, she announced her special meal deal, “The Angel Reese Special,” with McDonald’s. The partnership, which includes a whopping quarter-pounder burger with barbecue sauce and bacon, is the franchise’s first collaboration with a female professional athlete.

“The deals don’t just stop in college,” she said. “When you go to the pros, they continue, and I feel like they’ve grown even more. Now that I’m a pro, I can do so much more.”

Reese Says She’s Part Of History

Women’s basketball has become more popular than ever since the 2023 national championship game between LSU and Iowa.

In addition to Reese, the organization welcomed in several standout players, including Rickea Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso, Cameron Brink, and, of course, the record-breaking all-star Caitlin Clark.

In 2024, Reese addressed the role she’s played in the sport’s surge, saying she’ll “go down in history” when things are all said and done.

Angel Reese

“I’ll look back in 20 years and be like: ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person; it’s because of me too, and I want you to realize that.’ Like, it’s just not cause of one person. A lot of us have done so much for this game,” she said.

Why Reese Signed With Reebok

Since signing with Reebok, Reese has released custom merch and revealed a signature shoe is on the way.

In the past, she’s spoken about why she chose to work with the brand instead of the several other companies who wanted to work with her, including Nike.

“One, they didn’t have a women’s basketball player [who was the] face,” she said. “So, I wanted to be that.”

She also referenced her close working relationship with Shaq, who also played at LSU prior to joining the NBA, before revealing the final reason, which was that the company understood her vision.

“They’re letting me be the creator behind everything that I want to do,” she explained. “I’m bringing Reebok back.”

McDonald’s is partnering with WNBA and Unrivaled star Angel Reese for a new signature meal.

According to Front Office Sports, the Angel Reese Special will feature a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese, fries and a drink:

While McDonald’s has collaborated with several celebrities and athletes over the years, this marks the first time a female athlete will have a signature meal at the iconic fast food chain.

Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan had his own signature meal called the McJordan Special back in 1992, but McDonald’s has focused more on musicians in recent years, such as Travis Scott, J Balvin, BTS, Saweetie, Mariah Carey, Cardi B and Offset.

Reese is bucking that trend, though, in the latest example of her immense and ever-growing star power.

The 22-year-old Reese first rose to prominence at the collegiate level, starring at Maryland and LSU. While at LSU, Reese won a national championship in 2023 and was named the NCAA tournament’s most outstanding player.

Reese went seventh overall to the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA draft, and although a fractured wrist cut her rookie season short, she still earned an All-Star selection and finished second to Caitlin Clark in Rookie of the Year voting by virtue of averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game.

She recently returned to the court as part of Rose BC in the brand-new Unrivaled three-on-three women’s basketball league.

While Rose BC are just 1-3, Reese has been productive with averages of 10.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

The Unrivaled season runs until March 17, and the 2025 WNBA season will begin about two months later in May.

The Angel Reese Special will be available at all participating McDonald’s locations beginning on Feb. 10.