Angel Reese is making headlines again. This time for a heated moment during the Chicago Sky’s 83–75 loss to the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.
Midway through the game, Reese appeared to slap Washington rookie Kiki Iriafen in the face after missing a layup and losing the rebound. The contact occurred in live play but drew no whistle or technical foul, raising questions about consistency in officiating.
A Frustration Boilover
The play came just two days after Reese was involved in a separate altercation against the Connecticut Sun, when she had her hair pulled under the basket and responded with visible frustration. That game ended in a Sky win, where she notched her first career triple-double.
Against Washington, Reese posted another solid individual stat line — 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, with 10 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to lift Chicago out of its slump.
Sky Trending Down
Tuesday’s loss marks the fourth in five games for the Sky, dropping them to 3–8 on the season. It’s one of the worst records in the league. The team was expected to take a step forward this year, especially with Reese entering her sophomore season and the front office making offseason moves to add depth.
Instead, Chicago has struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor. And now faces increased scrutiny after back-to-back physical confrontations involving their star forward.
No Call, No Ejection
While some fans argue that the slap was exaggerated by Iriafen’s reaction, WNBA rules typically treat face contact as a technical foul and potentially a flagrant. The no-call has fueled conversation online about how officials treat high-profile players like Reese, often referred to as one of the “faces of the WNBA.”
What’s Next?
Despite the controversy, Reese has continued to produce on the stat sheet and remains a central piece of Chicago’s future. But as the losses pile up and emotions run high, the Sky will need to find answers fast, both tactically and temperamentally, to climb back into contention.
