Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has been making waves this offseason, though not just for her basketball skills. Instead, Reese has been in the spotlight for various off-court appearances and ventures, and that has led to some criticism, including from media personality Joe Budden, who took issue with her approach to the offseason.
Budden didn’t hold back when discussing Reese’s activities. He suggested that she should be spending more time in the gym, much like her counterpart Caitlin Clark. “I’ve seen Angel Reese wildin’ out, I don’t know if I’ve seen her on Wild N’ Out,” Budden remarked. “Angel Reese won’t sit her [expletive] down… She won’t go sit down somewhere for a second. There’s value in it. This is going to sound like I’m telling women what to do. But I ain’t.”
He continued by comparing Reese’s approach to Clark’s, saying, “Whoever [Reese] got is telling her to go pop up everywhere. That’s not what Caitlin Clark’s people are saying, not to make it racial… We just on some star rookie [expletive] now. All season, [Reese] keep[s] putting [her]self in the same box as Caitlin Clark, but there’s more than basketball.”
Reese, however, didn’t stay silent in the face of the critique. When Budden and others questioned her work ethic during the offseason, Reese responded with a sharp retort on social media. “If it ain’t on camera, I guess it ain’t happening,” she fired back, implying that just because people don’t see her putting in work doesn’t mean she isn’t staying focused on her game.
But the spotlight followed her yet again just hours after her response.
On Tuesday night, Reese attended the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show alongside her former LSU teammate, Kysre Gondrezick. Her appearance at the high-profile event triggered another wave of criticism from fans on social media, who questioned her commitment to basketball.
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Unfazed, Reese clapped back at her critics with another strong message. “I thought the brand was ‘cheapened’…. CRY ABOUT IT,” she posted, making it clear she has no intention of letting outside opinions dictate her actions.
Reese’s confidence and unapologetic attitude signal that she’s not concerned about what people think of her life away from the court. While some may question her focus, Reese seems determined to show that she can balance both her career in basketball and her rising celebrity status.
As she continues to thrive in both worlds, perhaps it’s time her critics shift their attention elsewhere.
