Stephen A Smith PUTS Angel Reese IN HER PLACE After DROPPED From Chicago Sky!
Angel Reese’s fall from grace has been as dramatic as her rise. Not long ago, she was the queen of college basketball, the unapologetic “Bayou Barbie” who turned swagger and hustle into a viral brand. She was the face of a new WNBA era, clapping back at Caitlin Clark in that unforgettable championship moment and soaking up the spotlight with every rebound and headline. But as the 2024 WNBA season unfolded, the same spotlight that once crowned her now feels like a heat lamp, exposing every flaw and shortcoming. And when the Chicago Sky finally made the call to bench her, the whispers turned into a roar: Was Angel Reese ever ready for this stage, or did the hype outpace her game?
Stephen A. Smith, never one to mince words, didn’t hold back in his assessment. On ESPN’s First Take, he addressed the situation head-on, calling out not just Reese’s recent struggles, but the entire system that fast-tracked her to stardom before she was truly ready. “Let’s talk facts,” Smith said. “Caitlin Clark was injured and benched, but she was still dominating headlines. Meanwhile, Angel Reese had the stage to herself—no excuses, no distractions. And what did she give us? Four points. Four rebounds. That’s not what franchise players do when the lights are brightest.” For Smith, the issue wasn’t just about a single poor performance, but a pattern of underdelivering when it matters most.
It’s not that Angel Reese doesn’t have talent. She’s an elite rebounder and a relentless competitor, but as the Sky’s season wore on, her inability to score consistently became impossible to ignore. In games where hustle alone wasn’t enough, Reese’s stat lines started to look more like empty calories than fuel for victory. “At some point, someone’s got to score,” Smith argued. “Rebounds are great, but they don’t win championships. Scoring does. Leadership does. Caitlin Clark brings both. Angel? Right now, she’s bringing vibes, not victories.”
This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about perception. Reese isn’t hated—she’s resented, and not because she’s loud or unapologetically herself, but because she was handed the spotlight before she earned it statistically. There are WNBA veterans who have grinded for years without a fraction of the attention or endorsement deals that Reese landed before she ever played a pro minute. When her production failed to match the hype, the resentment grew—not just toward her, but toward a system that seemed more interested in TikTok followers than wins. The Sky’s coaching staff began shuffling her position, searching for a spark, but the moves felt less like strategy and more like panic.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark—injured, benched, and still the league’s main character—continued to command the narrative. Even from the sidelines, Clark’s impact was undeniable: fourth in MVP voting as a rookie, triple-doubles, game-changing threes. She’s the kind of player who turns boos into cheers and setbacks into storylines. Every time Reese underdelivered, Clark’s greatness echoed louder. The contrast was unavoidable, and the WNBA—fans, media, and franchises alike—took notice.
For Angel Reese, every game became an audition for her own survival. If she didn’t start scoring and leading, the Sky would have no choice but to bench their biggest brand. The WNBA isn’t a charity; it’s a league where wins matter more than Instagram likes. “The league doesn’t care about TikTok followers,” Smith said. “They care about results. And right now, Angel Reese isn’t delivering.”
The bigger story, though, is what Reese’s struggles say about the modern sports landscape. Hype is powerful, but it’s also fleeting. The media, brands, and fans are quick to anoint new stars, but even quicker to move on when those stars don’t deliver. Reese’s journey is turning into a cautionary tale: you can’t skip steps on the road to greatness. Swagger and marketability can open doors, but only performance keeps you in the room.
Smith’s final verdict was as blunt as it was true: “This isn’t about who’s prettier, louder, or more marketable. It’s about who shows up, who scores, who leads. Caitlin Clark isn’t the villain—she’s just better. And if Angel Reese doesn’t find her rhythm soon, she won’t just lose the rivalry. She’ll lose the conversation. Because hype fades, but greatness echoes.”
In the end, Angel Reese’s story is still being written. She has the tools and the drive to turn things around, but the window is closing fast. The league she once seemed destined to dominate is moving on, and only she can decide whether she’ll rise to meet the moment—or become another lesson in the difference between hype and history.
