WNBA’s Angel Reese and NBA superstar LeBron James. Photo credits: Imagn

'Everything Becomes About Survival': Angel Reese Gives Powerful Statement To Critics, Cites LeBron James As Example

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 7:26 AM ET

Angel Reese isn’t here for the noise—and she made that clear with a powerful Instagram post aimed at her critics. The Chicago Sky forward, dubbed the “Chi-Town Barbie,” responded to the growing scrutiny she’s faced early in the 2025 WNBA season by channeling none other than NBA icon LeBron James.

On Wednesday, Angel Reese dropped a photo carousel packed with messages of resilience, defiance, and confidence. Her team may be struggling with a 2-6 record, but Reese made it known she’s not backing down from the hate.

“Every successful person you admire survived a season you didn’t see. Idols turn into rivals. Everything becomes about survival,” she wrote in the caption, giving fans a raw look into her mindset.

One standout image in the post recreated LeBron James’ famous meme—where he’s seen laughing with his hand on his forehead—captioned with:

“Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life.”

The visual was a direct nod to the Lakers superstar’s viral moment, reimagined through Reese’s lens. And she didn’t stop there. In another slide, she added fuel to her message with a practice photo and the quote:

“Imagine hating me and I like it.”

Jun 10, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) warms up prior to the game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

It’s clear: Reese is taking the criticism, flipping it into motivation, and owning her narrative.

“She Still Shows Up”: Teammate Defends Angel Reese After Liberty Loss

Following a tough 85-66 loss to the defending champion New York Liberty, Reese’s teammate Ariel Atkins had her back in the post-game press conference.

May 29, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Rebecca Allen (9), guard Ariel Atkins (7), guard Courtney Vandersloot (22), center Kamilla Cardoso (10), and forward Angel Reese (5) are seen during the first half against the Dallas Wings at the Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

When a reporter asked a question unrelated to basketball, Atkins stepped in to shut it down:

“I’m sorry, can I? Can I say something? This is a 23-year-old kid and the amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day, she still shows up,” Atkins said passionately.

“So, whatever questions y’all got about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. But all the other nonsense, like, it’s irrelevant. We’re here to play basketball and do what we do.”

May 22, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) talks to her teammates during the first half of a WNBA game against the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Chicago Sky may be on a tough skid, but their unity is evident. With head coach Tyler Marsh leading the charge, the team will need to regroup and rally fast—because the WNBA doesn’t wait for anyone. And if Reese’s post is any indication, she’s more than ready to fight through the storm.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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