Few athletes in recent years have been as heavily discussed, or as polarizing, as Angel Reese. Whether it’s her on-court performance or the narratives built around her off it, she has found herself at the center of a media storm that never seems to settle. She has been criticized, scrutinized, and even hated far more than most players in the WNBA over the past two years. And at times, that attention has even crossed the line, with racial abuses on different occasions.

Speaking on the April 21st episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast, Reese didn’t hold back as she reflected on the emotional toll of constant criticism and the reality of living life under a microscope. For her, it’s something she “doesn’t think that anybody will ever, ever understand.” However she considers it as a part of her development. “I think It was a character builder for me,” she said.”

Of course, being in Reese’s shoes is difficult to fully grasp. As far back as her college basketball days with LSU, she has been cast as the “villain” in sports media. And that label didn’t fade with time; instead, it intensified as she entered the WNBA.

Much of that attention has been amplified by her rivalry with Caitlin Clark. Of course, the rivalry has driven historic interest in women’s basketball. However, it has also brought an undercurrent of hostility. When people have discussions around the two stars, it has often veered beyond basketball, and spilled into personal criticism, divisive comparisons, and, in more troubling cases, outright hostility. 

In fact, former WNBA player Val Whiting about two years ago made the assertion that Angel Reese receives a significant amount of racially motivated hate, even more than any player in the WNBA. She even shared examples of abusive messages sent to her family. These are messages that went beyond criticism and into harmful, dehumanizing language. Specifically, in one message, a certain Martina described her as a “thug.” In another the sender called her “black b***h who disgusted him.” This messages, according to those close to Reese, are not just a one time thing, but a recurring reality.

Of course, rivalry is a common occurrence in sport, and it often helps spark greater interest and engagement. But there are limits, lines that people shouldn’t cross. In the case of the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, things have, at times, gone overboard. And to a large extent, the media has played a significant role in pushing it to that point. As former first lady Michelle Obama also said while speaking on a podcast last year, “the tough thing is the social media element” that this rivalry and hate has. As she explained, rivalry and hate happens in sports. However, it is now to the extreme, and with social media, it gets directly to players. In her exact words, “Now the hate is in your room, on your phone, with you all the time.”

Beyond the Caitlin Clark rivalry, Angel Reese has also faced significant criticism for her on-court performance. This is somebody who has been an All-Star in each of the two years she’s been in the league. Among other achievements, she set the all-time WNBA record for total rebounds in a single season with 446 in 2024. However, her performances have consistently been dissected under a particularly brutal and unforgiving lens. 

Specifically, her rebounding, which has been arguably her greatest strength, has paradoxically become a point of criticism. The term “mebounds” was even jokingly introduced to describe her knack for grabbing her own missed shots to boost her rebound numbers. And of course, that criticism rests on a largely inaccurate statistical base. Because, while she does rebound some of her own misses, the numbers show that these account for only a small fraction of her overall production.

Now, does this criticism come from a place of racial bias? It appears so. According to a March 2025 study by researchers from Rice University and the University of Illinois Chicago, there are indications that racial bias plays a role in perceptions and discussions around Reese. Looking back at her college career and comparing reactions to similar actions by different players, the study found clear disparities.

But beyond all of this, Reese has often found a way to rise above the storm. By the end of last season, she had broken the league’s all-time record for most double-doubles in a player’s first two seasons with 46. Even the “mebounds” criticism, she leaned into it, literally. She went as far as filing for a trademark for the term, embracing it on her own terms. As she put it, “‘mebounds,’ rebounds, ‘crebounds’ … anything that comes off that board, it’s mine.”

Right now, she has even grown into a place of greater maturity and understanding. As she explained on the podcast with Michelle Obama, “I’ve been able to understand it.” For her, even though all that she has experienced over the years is not normal nor acceptable, she has come to an understanding. Previously she would allow the things said on social media to bother her, but now she’s grown past that. In her exact words, “understanding that this is my new reality of what life is about and being able to just be grateful and graceful of everything that I’m able to enjoy.”

And as simple as that sounds, it’s a level of awareness that doesn’t come easy, especially at just 23. As Michelle Obama also pointed out, “it takes some people until 62 to realize that.” And that, as she emphasized, is the most important part. As she explained, she adores Reese, she finds watching her fun, but she also “wanna make sure she’s protecting your soul through all of this.”

Well, with all that she’s achieved so far, it’s safe to say she’s done exactly that, even if it has been a daunting journey. Right now, she is ready for another chapter of her career, her third WNBA season with the Atlanta Dream. She has described her move to Atlanta as a breath of fresh air. Hopefully, that’s exactly what it will turn out to be. 

Angel Reese Opens Up on Chicago Sky Exit, Says Atlanta Dream Move Feels Like Déjà Vu

Just like she’s doing now, Angel Reese also made a major switch earlier in her career. After her sophomore year in college, she transferred from Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball to LSU Tigers women’s basketball. And of course, that move proved to be a defining one. Reese went on to lead LSU to its first-ever NCAA National Championship in 2023, where she was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

According to her, her recent move from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream feels quite similar. As she said, “Transferring from Maryland and going to LSU and winning a championship, it feels like déjà vu right now.” 

While with the Chicago Sky, Reese had been open about her frustrations, particularly as the team endured two consecutive losing seasons and missed out on the playoffs. That stands in sharp contrast to what she’s walking into in Atlanta. The Dream recorded a strong 30-14 recorded last season. However, their run unfortunately ended in the first round of the playoffs. 

Now with Reese joining, perhaps that’s all they need to now go all the way. As she also said “I get chills right now because being a part of Chicago my first two years and going to Atlanta, I just feel that urge right now that I’m going to win again.” As it appears, new teammates also appear to share the same vision. Some of them have even expressly referred to Angel Reese as the missing piece needed to take that next step. But could she really be the final piece?