'Her Crown Is Heavy': Ariel Atkins Defends Angel Reese From 'Nonsense' Criticism

The Sky dropped to 2-6 on the season with their loss at Barclays Center, but Angel Reese turned in a standout individual performance — 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes.

It marked Reese’s 30th career double-double, making her the fastest player in WNBA history to reach that milestone.

Yet the postgame narrative quickly shifted when Reese was asked about a flagrant foul called on her after contact with New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich.

“You saw it. We ran into each other,” Reese said with clear frustration. “You go look at it. Okay? Great.”

Broadcasters also questioned the call. ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo both suggested the contact looked more like a common foul, with the blindside nature of the collision likely influencing the officials’ decision to upgrade it.

Ariel Atkins Urges Respect and Focus on Basketball

As Reese became visibly emotional during the press conference, Ariel Atkins stepped in and spoke powerfully on her behalf.

“This is a 23-year-old kid. And the amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day and she still shows up,” Atkins said. “So whatever questions y’all got about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. But all the other nonsense, it’s irrelevant.”

Atkins emphasized that Reese, who is often targeted for both her playing style and public persona, faces constant scrutiny well beyond the box score.

“She knows who she is! And we ain’t gonna break her down for that. So whatever other questions y’all got, I’m hoping it’s just about basketball. Maybe a box score question?” Atkins said. “But the kid’s crown is heavy. Respect that.”

Reese, sitting next to Atkins, appeared visibly moved by the support.

Angel Reese Balances On-Court Production and Off-Court Pressure

Reese has faced waves of criticism since her college career, a dynamic that has followed her into the WNBA spotlight. Some of it centers on her shooting and finishing at the rim, but much of it extends to her personality and visibility in the public sphere.

Despite that, she continues to produce on the court. Her double-double against the Liberty was yet another reminder of her consistent rebounding dominance and ability to impact games.

Speaking postgame, Reese reiterated her approach to dealing with outside noise:

“People are behind keyboard for a reason,” Reese said.

She also used the moment to highlight broader issues for young Black women in sports, praising tennis star Coco Gauff for her recent success and composure.

Chicago Sky Look to Reset After Rough Start

The Sky have faced a difficult early schedule under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh. The team has struggled to find offensive rhythm and remains in search of lineup consistency.

Through it all, Angel Reese has been one of the Sky’s most consistent performers and vocal leaders. She has also expressed strong support for Marsh, calling for patience and unity as the team continues to build chemistry.

As Chicago prepares for its next stretch of games, Ariel Atkins’ message underscored that this is a team ready to rally around its young star — and determined to keep the focus on what happens between the lines.