Angel Reese is sparking a conversation about media boundaries that has reached far beyond the WNBA, as Sue Bird's ex, Megan Rapinoe, is the latest to back the Atlanta Dream star.

During an appearance on the IMO podcast with former First Lady Michelle Obama in late April, Reese admitted that she would rather pay fines than have a continued icy relationship with reporters throughout the WNBA season.

On May 7, Rapinoe staunchly backed Reese's stance about the media during an episode of her podcast A Touch More. “Angel was set up as a villain before she was even in the WNBA, and now she’s making it clear that she’s gonna protect her peace. The media landscape is changing rapidly in women’s sports, and of course, the W, as always, is out front."

“Angel isn’t saying that she’s never gonna do media, but she is saying that she won’t just stand up and take anything that’s thrown at her,” Rapinoe added.

As per the latest CBA, WNBA players are always required to be available for media for press conferences, pregame, and postgame interviews.

Rapinoe is now joining Reese in arguing that WNBA players should reconsider standard media requirements to argue that WNBA players should reconsider the standards around sports media.

“I think it’s really about like a new level of respect across the board. There needs to be a quality of journalism that is at the level of these athletes,” Rapinoe said.

WNBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is said to have increased fines for missing mandatory postgame media sessions to $10,000 per offense.

Several violations could add up to an expensive burden over a full season. Traditionally, repeated failure to fulfill media obligations has led to further disciplinary action, such as suspensions, in addition to fines, and Reese has been subjected to such penalties in her tenure with the Chicago Sky.

Reese was fined $1,000 for being unavailable to the media after a loss to the Indiana Fever early in her rookie season in 2024. Sky was also fined $5,000 for not making sure she complied.

This is not the first time Reese has addressed her growing issues with the media, as her conflict goes way back to her time in college.

Angel Reese has been a Frequent Target of the Media

During her time at LSU, Reese was the victim of various criticisms and fabricated headlines, mainly due to her ties with Iowa's Caitlin Clark.

The duo frequently exchanged trash talk, made competitive gestures, and engaged in occasional needless physicality, though media and fan debates amplified the tension more than the players themselves did.

Their rivalry peaked in the 2023 NCAA championship, where Reese and LSU managed to overcome CC's Iowa. Although Reese admitted that constant scrutiny weighed on her psyche.

Reese’s response is to set her own boundaries around coverage and how she interacts with reporters, even if it means facing criticism from the media or league officials.

It makes sense why Rapinoe went out of her way to back the 24-year-old, given her history of challenging major organizations through public advocacy.

Rapinoe's support aligns with her history of public advocacy.

So, are you in favour of Angel Reese and Megan Rapinoe's comments over the media?

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Utsav Gupta