Former NFL standout Dez Bryant quickly ignited a heated exchange on social media after he called out ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe for what he perceived as insufficient praise of Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese following her standout rookie season.
Bryant directed his frustration towards the sports commentators after Reese’s impressive 25-point outing, which helped lead the Sky to a narrow 88-87 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Sunday. “Where ya’ll at? She deserves high praise right now,” Bryant posted, questioning the level of recognition Reese was receiving from the prominent media figures.
Stephen A. Smith was swift to respond, vehemently refuting Bryant’s claims. Taking to his account on X (formerly Twitter), Smith defended both his and Sharpe’s coverage of Reese. “Man, for once, will you stop your B.S. @ShannonSharpe has praised her continuously. So have I, even profiling her excellence on numerous occasions. It’s on our social media pages @stephenasmith. We’ve talked about her on @FirstTake,” Smith articulated, pointing to multiple instances where Reese’s achievements were highlighted on their platforms.
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Reese’s performance indeed merited attention; she not only scored a career-high in points but also secured a double-double with 16 rebounds, effectively snapping the Fever’s four-game winning streak.
This feat in a high-stakes game further underscored her impact in the league during her rookie season.
Despite Smith and Sharpe’s assertions of having extensively covered Reese, Bryant maintained that the rising WNBA star was not receiving the spotlight she deserved. This dispute highlights the subjective nature of media coverage and the perceptions of adequacy in sports journalism.
Seeking to move the conversation from social media to a more structured debate, Smith extended an invitation to Bryant to appear on “First Take.”
This offer aimed to provide a platform for a thorough discussion and perhaps a resolution, shifting away from the limitations and often confrontational nature of online exchanges.
This invitation sets the stage for potentially insightful dialogue, where both parties can openly discuss their viewpoints regarding media coverage of emerging sports talents like Reese.
