Megan Rapinoe has Angel Reese’s back over her recent comments about handling the media.
During an appearance on former first lady Michelle Obama’s “IMO” podcast in late April, Reese admitted she would rather face fines than a continued icy relationship with reporters throughout the WNBA season.
“I’ll take a fine before I have to go media and feel like my back is against the wall,” Reese said.
Rapinoe staunchly defended Reese’s stance about the media during an episode of her podcast “A Touch More” on Thursday, saying it’s a “really great example of her taking her power back.”
“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,” she said. “The media landscape is changing rapidly in women’s sports, and of course, the W, as always, is out front.
“Angel isn’t saying that she’s never gonna do media, but she is saying that she won’t just stand up and take anything that’s thrown at her.”
Throughout the season, athletes are typically required to participate in media availabilities and news conferences, but Rapinoe argued that WNBA players should reconsider the standards around sports media.
“I think it’s really about like a new level of respect across the board. There needs to be a quality of journalism that is at the level of these athletes,” Rapinoe said.
Rapinoe added that Reese’s comments make for a good example for all athletes to fight for better expectations from the media.
“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,’” she said. “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.”
Reese, who was drafted by the Sky in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, was traded to the Dream in April after she threatened Chicago to go in a “different direction” at the end of its 10-34 season last year.
