For a long time, Angel Reese has been walking a tightrope between passionate gestures and unsportsmanlike conduct. Right from her LSU days and the “you can’t see me gesture” Towards Caitlin Clark to just last year when Reese swatted the clipboard out of the hands of the Sky’s VP of basketball operations Ann Crosby after a late foul call. Now, as Reese approaches a new season with the Atlanta Dream after her memorable trade, the conversation has reemerged after an incident with Kiki Iriafen. 

It’s no secret that Angel Reese hates to lose. She was suspended from the Chicago Sky last year after her Tribune interview asking for a better team and improved management because she is “not settling for the same shit we did this year,” and the team “[has] to get great players.” However, that  sometimes rubs fans the wrong way, as the preseason incident with Iriafen has earned her criticism. 

In the second quarter of the Mystics-Dream preseason matchup, Reese received the ball in the corner with an iso set up on Iriafen. She tried to bully-ball her way in with elbows tossed towards Iriafen. But the second year stayed steady. When Reese tried to go around her for a layup, Iriafen swatted the ball away for an emphatic block. 

But unfortunately for the Mystics star, she made contact on the play, sending Reese to the floor and the foul was called. As Reese was getting up, she looked at Iriafen with fire in her eyes and emphatically clapped thrice as she went to the line. Iriafen argued with the referees regarding why there wasn’t a call for Reese before her illegal block.  

She eventually had to retreat to the bench because of her fourth foul call. Iriafen won the battle on the day with 11 points and 4 rebounds in the 83-72 win. Reese finished with 10 points while going 3-7 from the field. The interaction with Iriafen certainly raised some eyebrows, as many fans have ignited the Kiki Iriafen-Angel Reese battle. 

Angel Reese-Kiki Iriafen Rivalry Activated After Intense Clash 

“what a horrible body language!!!,” wrote a fan. Reese’s body language and her passion has long been interpreted as unsportsmanlike conduct by many. But the Dream star remains “unapologetic” for her actions, continuing with the same passion and zeal. While some of her past conduct can be debatable, such displays of aggression are overwhelmingly common in the WNBA and the NBA, even in the preseason. However, keeping the behavioral aspect aside, this clash has also stirred up the competition between Iriafen and Reese. 

“Kiki and Reese have a little rivalry that people don’t talk about,” wrote a fan. “She and Kiki had that rivalry going on all through the game,” pointed out another. Kiki Iriafen and Reese are similar players. They are ferocious rebounders with a tendency to dominate the paint. 

Naturally, they ended up guarding each other plenty of times with some physical clashes like this one. They also had an intense clash during the Team USA camp where Iriafen knocked Reese to the floor. 

Even that interaction drew eyebrows regarding their potential clashes in the WNBA. Last year, Reese also hit Iriafen on the face during a fastbreak opportunity for the Mystics. In a sense, they are also competing to become the best frontcourt players in the league, which makes this matchup even tastier. 

“Bodybagged by Kiki, still trying to run the tough guy gimmick from the ground, sure, man,” wrote a fan. 

Reese earned the free throws but it was Iriafen who ended up showing her authority in that block. It was a statement from the youngster that she is capable of guarding Reese, one of the best forwards in the league. But Reese’s stance reply that Iriafen could hold her ground with for only so long before she won the battle. It was an entertaining matchup that could grow even more during the regular season, where they face each other thrice and the stakes are higher.

“i fw angel but come on, how is it year 3 and you still getting f***** swatted like a small guard?” asked a fan. Reese’s technique has come under the radar early this season. Now, she is expected to become the veteran and improve on her previously amateurish shooting technique. Iriafen doesn’t have any size advantage over Reese, as both are listed at 6’3. But it’s a matter of footwork. 

Fans have also pointed out issues with Reese’s shot mechanics. Particularly her tendency to shoot from the hip, which often leads to blocks against strong paint defenders like Kiki Iriafen. More experienced players can do the same thing without fouling and it’s worse if Reese is at a size disadvantage.