The WNBA has imposed fines on Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky for their lack of adherence to league media protocols following their recent game against the Indiana Fever. Reese was fined $1,000 for her failure to participate in post-game interviews, while the Sky organization was fined $5,000 for their inability to ensure that their players followed media policies according to the league’s press release.
During the post-game press conference, Chennedy Carter and Kamilla Cardoso, along with coach Teresa Weatherspoon, were present at the podium. However, Carter declined to answer questions about an incident with Caitlin Clark that resulted in a Flagrant 1 foul. Reese was not present at the podium or made herself available to in-person media for interviews, leading to scrutiny over her absence.
Despite the issues with media obligations, Reese had a strong performance in the game, finishing with eight points and 13 rebounds. She currently leads rookies in scoring, rebounding, and steals, with an average of 10.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. Additionally, Reese’s 5.0 offensive rebounds per game also lead the league, showcasing her impact on the court despite the recent controversy.
The WNBA has strict post-game media access policies that require players to be available for interviews no later than 10 minutes after the game and coaches and two designated players per team present for press conferences. Additional player interviews are also allowed after the press conference with all players required to remain in the building until media obligations are fulfilled.
Angel Reese’s absence from media interviews after the game led to scrutiny over her lack of compliance with league protocols. The Chicago Sky organization also failed to ensure that their players followed these protocols leading to additional fines from the league.
Despite these incidents happening during a recent WNBA game between Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever teams still faced criticism on social media platforms for their behavior during a high-profile matchup between two of the biggest teams in basketball.
