Angel Reese is stepping into the 2025 WNBA season with a fresh start and a powerful mindset. After a headline-grabbing trade from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream, the star center is ready to rewrite her narrative—and she's got a legendary ally in her corner.
Reese, who makes her Dream debut on Saturday, May 9, at 8 p.m. ET against the Minnesota Lynx, has been open about her strained relationship with the media. Often cast as a foil to fellow rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, Reese has faced what she calls unfair treatment from certain reporters. Her response? A bold stance that could mean taking fines over forced interviews.
"The media has not always been great for me," Reese said last month on former first lady Michelle Obama's podcast, "IMO." "I'll have a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall."
That defiant attitude has earned praise from none other than soccer icon Megan Rapinoe. The retired U.S. Women's National Team star, known for her own battles with media scrutiny and her outspoken activism on equal pay and LGBTQ+ rights, sees Reese's approach as a game-changer.
"I think Angel is a really great example of her taking her power back," Rapinoe said on her podcast "A Touch More." "Angel was set up as a villain before she was even in the WNBA, and now she's making it clear that she's gonna protect her peace. The media landscape is changing rapidly in women's sports, and of course, the W, as always, is out front."
Rapinoe's support comes from firsthand experience. Throughout her career, she faced relentless media attention—from demanding equal pay for women in sports to taking a stand against former President Donald Trump and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. She understands the weight of being in the spotlight.
"I feel like this was obviously something Angel is doing for herself because of her personal experience, but I think this is a great example for all athletes and all female athletes of, 'I don't really have to do this,'" Rapinoe added. "It might mean I get a fine, but at some point, we have to adjust the expectations that journalists can just go up there and throw any kind of narrative, and we're the ones, athletes are the ones who are going to either field that or dispel that or say it's not true or try and combat it."
For Reese, this isn't just talk. In 2025, she skipped end-of-season media obligations with the Sky after the team fined her for criticizing roster construction in a Chicago Tribune interview. Now, with a new team and a renewed sense of purpose, she's ready to let her game do the talking.
As the WNBA season tips off, Reese's journey with the Dream is one to watch—not just for her on-court dominance, but for how she's redefining what it means to be an athlete in the modern media age. Whether she's grabbing rebounds or standing up for her peace, one thing is clear: Angel Reese is playing by her own rules.