Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky had quite the rookie moment in Saturday night’s loss to the Connecticut Sun, which culminated in the dismissal of a WNBA veteran.
Alyssa Thomas of the Sun was ejected from the game in the third quarter of Connecticut’s 86-82 victory after clotheslining Reese during a rebound battle.
As they wrestled for the rebound, Thomas extended her arm and hand across Reese’s neck, and Reese landed hard on the deck.
Referees reviewed the call and determined that Thomas committed a flagrant foul 2, the first in her career, resulting in an immediate ejection.
After the game, Reese, who finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes, was unconcerned about what happened to Thomas.
She stated before her WNBA career began that she wanted to be “knocked down” and learn from adversity. She may not have meant it literally, but that was exactly how she saw the scenario.
CAITLIN CLARK SAYS SHE TALKS WITH MEDIA MORE THAN HER ‘OWN FAMILY’ DURING THE EARLY PART OF WNBA ROOKIE SEASON.
“It isn’t just because I am a rookie. I am a player. I am a basketball player. “They don’t care if I’m a rookie,” Reese said of the encounter, according to The Athletic. “I want them to come at me every day. “I want them to come at everyone.”
Reese isn’t expecting for preferential treatment since she’s a rookie. If anything, she enjoys the pressure, toughness, and aggression of opponents since, as she stated, she is a basketball player who wants to win like everyone else.
Angel Reese walks on court.
