Everyone Has a Problem With ESPN Over Discrimination Against Angel Reese in Unrivaled

As fans went about their busy lives, they were probably waiting on ESPN to deliver the latest updates on their favorite athlete, Angel Reese. Of course, they remembered the push notifications, so one regarding the recent game was almost necessary, right? But hours passed, and the fans had to resort to their own searching skills to find out that the six-three forward’s performance was one for the ages.

Reese, against the Lunar Owls, had a game some can only dream of. She dropped 2o points, and 21 rebounds- including eight on the offensive side- for the Rose. It wasn’t just about the statistics, it was about who they were against. Lunar Owls were undefeated prior to this game, and Angel Reese’s efforts have handed them their first loss. This has also marked a milestone in Unrivaled’s history, as Reese became the first player to achieve this feat.

Well, given her remarkable rookie season in the WNBA, where she consistently racked up double-doubles, this is not something we can call a pleasant surprise. But pleasant as it is, for fans, it is also a painful reminder. Reese made headlines a few weeks ago for a reason not half as good as this. Right at the beginning of February, the Rose BC star became the first person in Unrivaled history to become ejected after two technical fouls.

The drama started when Angel Reese was whistled for a foul on Tiffany Hayes, who had fallen to the ground while driving to the basket. Reese’s response to the call – a wave of her hand in the direction of the referee – resulted in a first technical foul. But her continued arguing with the officials sealed her fate, as she was assessed a second technical foul, which led to her being ejected from the game.

Now, back then, ESPN had sent out push notifications for this “historic” ejection. However, nothing came out with such a glaring declaration after Reese made history again against Owls. This disparity sparked a familiar frustration among fans, who couldn’t help but wonder: what’s behind the inconsistent and often biased coverage of sports?

A striking double standard in public reaction emerged last year too when Angel Reese was criticized for taunting Caitlin Clark during the championship game. She was called “classless” and “immature“ by critics. Yet, when Clark did the same thing in the semifinals against South Carolina, the tone changed, and people found her actions “amusing” or “hilarious“. The difference in reaction led South Carolina coach Dawn Staley to come out and denounce the biased undertones in the manner in which her players were being characterized, stressing that they are deserving of respect and dignity.

Now that fans think ESPN too is moving in that direction, they are calling for a more nuanced and inclusive coverage.

Fans react to ESPN’s Angel Reese bias

Angel Reese has drawn fierce criticism on social media ever since her days at LSU. It’s unfair, yes, but also not that shocking. Her prominent comparison with Caitlin Clark routinely made her play the villain, and that can have its own repercussions. Yet when national news sources started echoing this same slant, supporters picked up on it and didn’t think it was fair.

After Angel Reese’s brilliant performance, a user on X pointed out the discrimination that ESPN showed. Attached to the tweet was an image of a push notification that the media outlet sent when Reese got ejected from the game in early Feb. “Soooo…. Was a push notification sent out for this one, too?” The user asked in their tweet.

Fellow fans flooded the replies section with agreement. One user criticized ESPN through and through, pointing out their focus on negativity. “@espn When it’s time to post basketball record breakers and accomplishments yall get quite. Why not post this instead of the negativity” 

ESPN’s behavior regarding the Chicago Sky star was noticed by quite a few people. “Lord they hate Angel” One user wrote, while another echoed the same sentiment. “Hell no lol they only post hate for her”

Even those that are neutral towards Reese agree that the discrimination is getting out of hand. “I’m not an AR stan or hater, but they need to do better with her name !” It is one thing to carry on narratives in a rivalry, but proper appreciation should be awarded to a star when they’ve performed well.

Well, Angel Reese has always proven her capacity to overcome adversity. Even when she faced severe scrutiny in her first year, she put in stellar performances, unfazed by the negativity. She even appears to be at her best under pressure, harnessing the negative energy to propel her forward. With her unshakeable winning attitude, Reese is ready to keep breaking barriers – and maybe ESPN’s oversight will only push her to greater heights.