Ariel Atkins Stands Up for Angel Reese After Sky’s Sixth Loss
Angel Reese may be just a rookie in the WNBA, but she’s already playing like a veteran—and carrying the pressure that comes with it. Following the Chicago Sky’s tough loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday, June 10, teammate Ariel Atkins used the postgame press conference to defend the 23-year-old forward from growing public criticism.
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Reese, a former LSU star and NCAA champion, delivered her best performance yet with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. But instead of celebrating her performance, much of the conversation focused on outside noise and scrutiny—something Atkins said has gone too far.
“This is a 23-year-old kid,” Atkins, 28, told reporters while sitting beside Reese. “The amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day basis—and she still shows up. That deserves grace.”
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Atkins was visibly frustrated by the line of questioning and urged media members to focus on the game rather than personal attacks or off-court narratives. “Whatever questions y’all got about basketball, we appreciate it,” she said. “But all the other nonsense—it’s irrelevant. We’re here to play basketball.”
She emphasized the strength Reese shows by continuing to show up and perform under pressure, referring to the resilience required to withstand the criticism. “Her crown is heavy,” Atkins said. “She has to build a wall, because if she doesn’t, people will break her down—not just for how she plays, but for how she looks and how she carries herself.”
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Atkins made it clear that Reese isn’t flaunting fame—she simply knows who she is. “She doesn’t just walk around acting like, ‘I’m this, I’m that.’ No, she knows who she is—and we’re not going to tear her down for that.”
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The support didn’t stop there. Reese reposted the clip of Atkins’ powerful words on social media with the message, “Love my Vet man.” Even Cardi B—who featured Reese in her 2023 music video—shared the video with heart and teary-eyed emojis, showing love for both players.
Despite the Sky’s 0-6 record, Reese continues to grow into her role, both as a player and as a public figure. And as Atkins made clear, no matter how tough things get, the team—and her veteran mentor—are behind her.
The Chicago Sky will next face the Atlanta Dream on Friday as they look to turn the page and find their first win.
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