When WNBA legend Candace Parker ranked Angel Reese in the “C” tier, she probably expected some pushback. What she didn’t expect was the wave of anger that followed, with fans calling her an “Angel Reese hater” and questioning whether personal bias influenced her basketball judgment. Now Parker is fighting back, defending her rankings while trying to separate professional analysis from personal attacks.
How Did Parker Respond to the “Angel Reese Hater” Claims?
During her “Good Follow” podcast appearance on July 22, Parker strongly denied any bad feelings toward Reese after facing heavy criticism on social media. She showed her respect for the Chicago Sky forward while explaining why she ranked players the way she did.
“There’s no hate on Angel Reese,” Parker stated. “I love her. I love that she plays for the Chicago Sky. I saw her at my Jersey retirement versus LA. So it’s nothing like that.”
Parker explained her ranking focused purely on current performance rather than future potential or past achievements. She said that her assessment was based on objective basketball analysis rather than any personal bias against the talented young forward.
“They asked me my opinion. And my thing is, if you bring something to the argument, bring something else. Can she get to player A or player S or whatever? Yes, she can. Right now, I don’t know if she’s alongside those players and you’re measuring her against players who have been in the league for years.”
“I will never attack anybody’s character. I will never attack who they are ever, and I just hope that others will do the same,” Parker added. She made clear the difference between judging basketball skills and making personal attacks that go too far in sports media.
Which Tier Rankings Caused This Controversy?
The controversy began when Parker appeared on Complex Sports to rank current WNBA players using a tier system. She placed elite talents A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart in the top “S” tier while positioning Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Plum, and Sabrina Ionescu in the “A” category.
Her decision to rank Angel Reese in the “C” tier alongside Cameron Brink led to backlash, as many felt Parker’s evaluation didn’t reflect Reese’s impact on the Chicago Sky and her overall contributions to the team’s performance in the 2025 campaign.
“I put her right at that C level,” Parker explained during the Complex Sports segment. “I think in terms of being above, you have to be able to have the ability to carry a team and be a 1 or 2 option.”
Parker had previously described Reese as mainly a great offensive rebounder but questioned whether she could be a team’s main scoring option. The evaluation caught many off guard who see Reese as more than just a rebounding player.
The timing made Parker’s comments stand out even more. During this period, Reese had just achieved her 10th consecutive double-double, making her the first player in WNBA history to record multiple streaks of 10 or more consecutive double-doubles.
Reese currently averages 13.8 points and leads the league with 12.5 rebounds per game in her sophomore season. She has become the fastest player in WNBA history to achieve multiple double-double streaks of 10 games or more in just 56 career appearances.
