Angel Reese is making history with the Atlanta Dream, but has also opened her up to much criticism. In Atlanta’s 104-69 win over the Connecticut Sun, Reese broke the Dream’s single-season rebounding record, reaching 375 rebounds in just 32 games.

But the attention around Reese has not always been about basketball. A few months back, WNBA commentator Jason Whitlock called out Reese for trolling Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark.

"Angel Reese is the most brutal basketball player. The most unskilled 'alleged' star we've ever seen," Whitlock said, according to an Instagram post he uploaded in May.

In the May 18, 2026, Instagram post, Whitlock questioned whether she is a true star. He suggested that the Dream star's fame came more from her popularity and brand endorsements than from true basketball skill.

Reese grabbed 15 rebounds in Friday's game, along with scoring eight points and grabbed five offensive rebounds. She helped Atlanta control the boards and get extra chances to score.

After the game, Reese had 384 rebounds this season and averaged 12.0 rebounds per game. Her strong rebounding is exactly what the Dream wanted when they traded for her in the offseason.

Her offense still needs to improve, but she is already very important to Atlanta because of her rebounding, physical play and hard work. Breaking the Dream’s rebounding record in only her 32nd game shows how valuable she has become.

However, Reese has had to deal with the criticism that every successful athlete faces at some point, and her skills with the ball are the last thing people are talking about during that discussion.

Why the backlash against Reese remains so complicated

Reese has accepted the opportunities that come with being a sports star, making a mark not just in the world of basketball but also in modeling, podcasting, and social media. Her huge popularity has given her more attention, brand deals, and money.

However, famous athletes in many sports often face strong criticism and online trolling, making their popularity both a boon and a curse.

An August 17 report by Sportsnaut mentioned Reese saying multiple times that she feels targeted by fans, coaches, referees, reporters, and society.

Her Barbie deal with Mattel also caused debate. Reese said she never had a Barbie that looked like her when she was growing up.

Critics contradicted that claim, pointing out that the first Black Barbie came out in 1980 and was designed by Kitty O’Neil Perkins. The debate became another example of how talks about Reese often go beyond basketball.

Her record-breaking season gives her a lot to be proud of. But the big question is: when does fair criticism of Angel Reese become unfair and personal targeting?

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

Read more at Her Sports Nation.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Arundhoti Palit