One thing about taking your verbal quarrels public is that everyone gets to have a say. Unsolicited or no. And everyone can get to pick a side. The longer the public disagreement between Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky remain unresolved, the more insights and commentaries drop.
Angel Reese has taken her share of heat for being outspoken, but this time she’s got backup from a veteran. Angel McCoughtry came to Reese’s defense, saying the Chicago Sky rookie is only doing what anyone else would if given the chance.
“If I was in that position like Angel, I would do it,” McCoughtry said on her show. She compared it to asking for more without hurting the team. “And now, what I said was ask the brand for extra honey. That’s what I said. It won’t come out your base. Get the team like, ‘Hey, can I get extra on the side for the team?’”
McCoughtry also pointed to Paige Bueckers at UConn, who shared her endorsement perks with teammates. “I think Paige did it at UConn, she involved them in her endorsements. So, why are people mad at giving? Why are people mad at investing more into women’s sports? What are we really mad about, people? If it was you, you would take it. What are you mad about?”
View this post on Instagram
The message isn’t just about Angel Reese’s comments. It’s about the larger debate over money, power, and opportunity in women’s basketball. McCoughtry’s defense shows that younger players speaking up isn’t a bad thing—it’s part of pushing the game forward.
Angel Reese’s Rookie Teammate Once Questioned By Angel McCoughtry
Angel Reese isn’t the only young name to spark discussion. Earlier this year, Angel McCoughtry openly questioned whether Reese’s rookie teammate Hailey Van Lith earned her spot more through popularity than performance.
“If Hailey Van Lith had 10,000 followers, would she be in the league? Let me ask you that,” McCoughtry said. “Honestly. We’re just talking about her true talent. Take away her followers. Would she be in the league if she only had 10,000 followers?”
McCoughtry didn’t hold back, saying Van Lith was “a decent player” but added that others may be better yet overlooked. “Are there players out there who may be better than Hailey Van Lith? I believe so. They’re not popular.”
That kind of blunt assessment echoes what Angel Reese has faced herself. Both players sit at the center of debates about talent, popularity, and how women’s basketball is judged in the spotlight.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
