“Heckling isn’t Hate Speech” – Angel Reese Brutally Mocked with ‘Triple-Single’ Chants by WNBA Fans

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese often finds herself facing criticism due to her rivalry with Caitlin Clark that started since their college days.


“Heckling isn’t Hate Speech” – Angel Reese Brutally Mocked with ‘Triple-Single’ Chants by WNBA Fans

Chicago Sky Angel Reese has been facing criticism for quite some time (Image via FirstSportz)

Angel Reese is no stranger to criticisms and other ‘hate’ filled narratives. Ever since she taunted Caitlin Clark at the 2023 NCAA National Championship game, she has become the target of many fans and has since been trying to push ahead despite the noise.

That push saw the Chicago Sky forward appear at several fashion shows and other events, all in a bid to improve her brand. Even though she was growing her followers, some, such as rapper Joe Budden, warned her that she needed to take a break before it became too much to handle.

However, he did not say what she needed to hear, that is, to work on her game. Many of her fans were asking her to schedule one-on-one workout sessions with trainers so that she could develop her game. She did eventually start working, but it was close to her debut in the inaugural Unrivaled league.

During that inaugural season, she also worked on her game with Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie. Her fans believed that the LSU alum was on the right track. Reese’s performances late in that league and in the preseason gave hope that she was going to let her basketball do the talking.

The Chicago Sky are 2-4 currently, and in some of those losses, Angel Reese did not play well. In the others, she was merely average at best. Even in the two wins, she did not have a winning contribution, something that led to fans heckling her at the latter of those wins.

A video clip posted by a fan shows another fan mocking Angel Reese with ‘triple-single’ chants as she was shooting free throws. The fan who posted it tried to construe these chants as being hate-laced, but WNBA fans were not having it.

Fans tear into ‘hate’ propaganda involving Angel Reese

WNBA fans watching this clip believe this was some fans who are trying to prove that Reese is being racially discriminated against at games. Some similar claims led to a WNBA investigation, but that came up empty.

Fans believe some people are intentionally trying to make such claims to aid their narrative that the league has a major racial divide. However, fans shot down any such rhetoric by making it clear that heckling a player is part of any sports culture. Check out examples of those comments below.

Many WNBA fans had a problem with that investigation, as many who were at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for opening night clarified that they did not hear any racially motivated words being directed at anyone. Instead, those rumors were spread by people who were not at the game.

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s rivalry will not resume for Game 2

All of these narratives have come about as a result of Angel Reese‘s rivalry with Caitlin Clark. Even though both have made it clear that they are not rivals, for some reason, fans and some sections of the media designate them as such.

Angel Reese will not be able to resume her rivalry with Caitlin Clark in their next game
Angel Reese will not be able to resume her rivalry with Caitlin Clark in their next game (Image via WNBA/X)

Whatever they choose to call it, they will not be able to renew it for the second clash between Reese’s Chicago Sky and Clark’s Indiana Fever, come June 7th. That is because the reigning Rookie of the Year is out with a quad injury, and recovery prognosis pegs the earliest possible return around June 10th.

This game is scheduled to be played at the much larger United Center. Fans will need to wait until the July 27th game at the same venue to watch these two so-called rivals butt heads again. By that time, hopefully, both teams will have ironed out their chemistry woes, which should make that game exciting.

Also Read: