ESPN Faces Backlash for Angel Reese Highlight During WNBA Blowout Loss

ESPN faced widespread criticism for highlighting Angel Reese's three-pointer during the Chicago Sky's heavy 107-86 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, a game in which the Sky trailed by over 20 points throughout. The tweet, which featured an enthusiastic emoji, was seen by many fans as tone-deaf given Reese's overall poor performance and the team's struggles. Reese finished the game with nine points, two rebounds, two assists, and a -25 plus-minus rating, and she is not regarded as a strong three-point shooter, hitting around 22-37% from beyond the arc this season. Critics argued that ESPN's decision to promote a routine shot in a losing effort felt like forced hype, leading to backlash on social media accusing the network of overemphasizing Reese's contributions. Despite the negative response, some commentators noted that while Reese is not among the worst players, the timing and context of the post were inappropriate. The Chicago Sky, now with a 3-9 record, will look to rebound in upcoming games.