Liberty Star’s Words on Angel Reese Hit Different as Playoff-Eliminated Sky Stun Defending Champs

It’s terrifying to be a 22-year-old athlete and come back home with stalkers on your trail, unlocking your phone only to find death threats and AI-generated explicit photos of yourself. Sadly, that’s the harsh reality Angel Reese had to live through, something she bravely opened up about in the early episodes of her Unapologetically Angel podcast. “It’s really hard,” she admitted. But she must know that it’s the resilience that not just her fans but even her opponents have come to respect. The latest to give her flowers was Emma Meesseman. 

The best part about Angel Reese is not just the numbers she puts up or the highlights she creates. It’s that the Chicago Sky All-Star forward has never been afraid to admit she’s human. She’s open about the fact that she has feelings, that the constant noise and criticism on social media gets to her, and that she’s not some machine immune to it all. But she’s just as unafraid to fight back, to keep her chin up, and to not let any of that dictate how she lives her life. That resilience was noticed by Liberty star Meesseman, who had nothing but praise for Reese during an August 21 episode of the Good Follow show.

“Having seen the game from outside, since she came in the league, I think she has to be a very strong person, to be able to handle every single thing,” the international star said of Reese. “I don’t know if I would be able to, at that age, be able to withstand all that hate, almost. Negative comments. So the fact that she’s still here, like for the love of the game, and everything, it says a lot about her.” And really, Meesseman is right. If there’s anyone in the league who’s been subjected to relentless trolling, it’s Reese. The former LSU standout has been mocked, picked apart, and targeted constantly. But instead of shrinking, she’s turned negativity outward.

The most recent example has to be “mebounds.” It was a phrase meant to mock her for grabbing an offensive rebound after missing a layup. But she trademarked it and started selling merchandise. That’s businesswoman Reese. And beyond the trolling, her actual game has been leveling up. She remains the league’s best rebounder, but she’s also improved as a playmaker for her teammates. More than anything, though, she’s bringing a fire and leadership that teammates and opponents can feel. Meesseman pointed that out too.

“I think she’s a very aggressive player, and fighting for every single thing,” the NY player said. “I think that’s a talent, too. That it’s almost given. You can practice that, of course, and it’s a state of mind. But she’s actually going for every single thing, no matter what the situation is. So I have a lot of respect for that.” Well, little did she know that the very same fire would come crashing right back at her own team the next day.

Because while this Chicago Sky season has been one of frustration, they weren’t going to bow out quietly. Kelsey Plum’s buzzer-beater against Dallas had officially sealed the Sky’s elimination, and their campaign felt more like a letdown than a fight. But then, out of nowhere, they found a spark. On Thursday night at Barclays Center, the Sky pulled off an upset that stunned the defending champion New York Liberty, 91-85. The win snapped their five-game losing streak and their five-game skid against the Liberty. And at the heart of it were the ‘Skyscrapers.’

Kamilla Cardoso put on a show with 22 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, while Reese, playing just her second game back after a three-week injury absence, added 21 points and 10 boards. The game itself was a dogfight, with 21 lead changes and 11 ties, but the Sky held firm until the very end. For the Sky, the victory didn’t change their playoff fate, but it gave them something to smile about. And after the game, Reese found yet another reason to smile. 

Angel Reese’s heartfelt reunion with Teresa Weatherspoon 

After Chicago’s surprising win over the New York Liberty, Angel Reese found herself in an emotional postgame moment that meant just as much as the victory. As the Sky gathered to celebrate, Reese spotted a familiar face courtside, Teresa Weatherspoon, her former head coach, who was fired after the 2024 season. 

The two shared a warm embrace, all smiles as they reunited. Weatherspoon’s firing last September had hit Reese hard. At the time, she took to X, writing, “I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me at such a pivotal point in my life. She was the only person that believed in me. The one that trusted me. I came to Chicago because of YOU.”

Though Reese blossomed into a star as a rookie, averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, Chicago finished just 13-27, missing the playoffs for the first time in five years. And despite public praise from Reese and other players, reports of a “disconnect” during exit interviews led the Sky to part ways with Weatherspoon. 

Then, Tyler Marsh took over in 2025 as the team’s fourth head coach in four years, but a 9-26 record only highlighted deeper struggles as injuries played a part, too. Still, seeing Weatherspoon again brought everything full circle for Reese.  Coincidentally, the Hall of Famer has ties to New York as well, where she spent six seasons with the Liberty, becoming a five-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. It was, in a way, homecoming for Coach T’Spoon. 

Meanwhile, for Reese, the meeting wasn’t just about nostalgia; it was about honoring the coach who believed in her when it mattered most.