Angel Reese has faced more than her share of criticism in her young WNBA career — not just for her play, but for her unapologetic personality and outspoken presence on and off the court. While she’s made headlines for leading the league in rebounding, she’s also drawn backlash with each bold move.
Following the Chicago Sky’s loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday, the noise around Reese grew louder — until teammate Ariel Atkins stepped up with a powerful defense that quickly went viral.
What Did Ariel Atkins Say About Angel Reese?
Atkins didn’t hold back when asked about the constant criticism aimed at Reese following the Sky’s 85–66 loss to the defending champion Liberty. Her passionate defense came in response to a media question about the scrutiny Reese receives, much of it unrelated to her performance on the court.
“This is a 23-year-old kid and the amount of crap that she gets on day-to-day, and she still shows up,” Atkins said. “Whatever questions ya’ll got about our team, basketball-wise we appreciate it, but all the other nonsense, it’s irrelevant. We’re here to play basketball and do what we do. We’re having a hard time right now at the end of the day.”
Atkins just wasn’t having it. Her strongly worded response suggests that Reese already has a lot on her plate, facing immense pressure from all sides.
“This is a 23-year-old kid who handles herself with grace,” Atkins added. “Her crown is heavy, so whatever else y’all wanna come at her for the way that she acts, she has to build a wall. She has to have a wall. Because if she doesn’t, people will break her down. Not only because of the way that she looks, but because of the way she carries herself.”
As the video started to go viral, Reese was prompt enough to respond publicly with love and affection for Atkins. She shared the clip on X, posting, “LOVE MY VET MAN”, followed by an emotional face emoji and a heart emoji.
Love my Vet man🥺💗 https://t.co/afXWGPFjXf
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) June 11, 2025
Even in defeat, the message from Chicago was clear: Angel Reese isn’t backing down — and neither are her teammates. With a season-best 17 points on 61.5% shooting and 11 rebounds against the Liberty, Reese let her game do the talking.
At 2–6, the Sky may be struggling in the standings, but Atkins’ passionate defense and Reese’s growing impact prove this team has plenty of fight left to give.
