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Angel Reese was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Chicago Sky's game Tuesday after picking up two technical fouls in quick succession, but less than 24 hours later, the WNBA has reportedly rescinded one of the technicals.
WNBA reporter Khristina Williams tweeted today that the league told Girls Talk Sports TV that it has “has overturned the second technical foul assessed” to Reese, who appeared to wave off an official with under three minutes remaining in the Sky's 88-75 loss to the New York Liberty.
The WNBA has overturned the second technical foul assessed to Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, the league confirmed to @GrlsTlkSportsTV.
— Khristina Williams (@Khristina) June 5, 2024
While Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon said in her press conference after the game that she did not know why Reese was ejected, one of the game's referees explained the rationale behind each of the technical fouls.
“Lead official Maj Forsberg told reporters after the game that Reese's technical fouls were for ‘disrespectfully addressing' the official and then for ‘waving her hand in dismissal,' ESPN's Michael Voepel wrote.
Marina Mabrey, Reese's Sky teammate who also earned a technical foul in Tuesday's game, said her rookie post player should learn from her ejection.
“She got two techs, she said something to the ref,” Mabrey said (h/t ESPN). “Whatever he felt like was the correct call is what he made. It's more about composure for us in our young years in the WNBA. You've got to get to know refs and how they respond to things.”
Angel Reese's rookie WNBA season so far
Angel Reese, one of the most popular women's college basketball players in recent history, saw her popularity dramatically rise while at LSU, with whom she won a national title. The Tigers' tournament clashes with Caitlin Clark and Iowa in both the 2023 national championship game and 2024 Elite 8 proved transformative in terms of media attention, and it has helped put an even greater spotlight on the quickly growing WNBA.
In the 2024 WNBA Draft in April, Reese was selected No. 7 overall by the Sky, which also picked South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso with its third overall selection. While Cardoso has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Reese has impressed so far as a rookie despite the quick turnaround from the end of the college basketball season.
Through eight games, Reese, who has started each of those contests, is averaging 10.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per game. Reese's efficiency still leaves a lot to be desired; she is shooting 33.8% from the field and 70.2% from the free-throw line while leading her team in fouls (3.6 per game).
The Sky have also been up and down as a team, with four losses in their last five. Last night's 13-point defeat proved to be the worst of the season so far despite Chicago defeating the Liberty on the road in their first matchup on May 23.
Chicago, which is off today, is set to continue in the Commisioner's Cup with a road game vs. the Washington Mystics tomorrow. The team's final two games in the in-season tournament will be at home vs. the Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Sun on June 8 and 12, respectively.
