Angel Reese Gets in WNBA Fans’ Good Books After Wholesome Response to WNBA Expansion

Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese will see five more teams join the WNBA starting next season in the next phase of expansion.

Angel Reese Gets in WNBA Fans’ Good Books After Wholesome Response to WNBA Expansion

Angel Reese excited for WNBA expansion (Image via FirstSportz)

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The WNBA has seen a whole new world open up ever since Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese came into the league. Last season, the two rookies brought along millions of fans, which resulted in never before seen revenue generation and hype.

That hype resulted in an expansion team in the form of the Golden State Valkyries. Next season, two more teams will join, one, an unnamed team from Portland, and the Toronto Tempo. On top of that, existing teams have grown in valuation in a very short time.

This piqued the interest of investment groups, who want the WNBA to add more teams. They did just that when they awarded Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia the next three expansion teams. They will start playing a year apart from the 2028 season.

However, Indiana Fever star, Sophie Cunningham, was not thrilled by the league’s decision. She felt that the WNBA should have consulted with players before deciding on the next expansion cities. To check if this was the common feeling among athletes in the W, reporters asked Angel Reese about her reaction.

Obviously, it’s great. I’m excited. Cleveland, they had the Final Four there, and Detroit’s also a great city, obviously. (The WNBA) had a team there before. Super excited to continue to grow, and more players need to be in this league because this league is great.

Angel Reese said

Reese believes currently there are many deserving players who cannot find a roster spot. With more teams, that problem will be solved as those players will get a chance to earn a job. She hopes this growth continues in the future.

Angel Reese wants CBA problems resolved before further expansion happens

The growth is going to help the WNBA bring in a larger pool of players as they look to spread their reach across the globe. However, before all that happens, Angel Reese talked about the current concern of the owners not willing to give the players what they deserve.

Focused and prioritizing the things that we don’t have within the teams that we have now. I think it’s really important. We have a new CBA coming up, so I know we’re doing a great job emphasizing that, putting the pressure on (the WNBA) about that too.

Angel Reese said

The Chicago Sky star had once talked about sitting out, if the owners were not going to give the players what they deserve. This time she did not tow that line, but maintained that the current owners have to be willing to cede more.

The owners via the league have sent out the first CBA to the WNBPA. The players rejected it, with some revealing it was nowhere close to what they have been asking during negotiations. Reese and her peers hope both sides can come to a compromise before next season.

Sophie Cunningham clarifies her stance on expansion teams

Sophie Cunningham faced quite the backlash after she suggested that among the 3 expansion cities, Cleveland and Detroit are not places players would like to play in. Before the Fever’s win over the Las Vegas Aces, SBNation’s Tony East caught up with the star and asked what she meant by it.

Sophie Cunningham reiterated players needs
Sophie Cunningham reiterated players needs (Image via WNBA/X)

All I was getting it, was Broadway, the off-court lifestyle. I’m thankful for what they’ve done for the history of our sport. I would never speak down upon middle-class, blue-collar working people, that’s where I come from.

Sophie Cunningham said to Tony East

The 28-year-old clarified that she was talking about how players need something to look forward to as they spent hours in the gym and on the court everyday. That is lacking in some of those cities. She reiterated that she was not trying to insult anyone, rather was focused on what players require.

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