Angel Reese Shatters Records and Exposes America’s Ugly Double Standards
Angel Reese's recent achievements in the WNBA are nothing short of extraordinary. With her 14th consecutive double-double, Reese shattered Candace Parker's long-standing record and solidified her status as a powerhouse on the court. Yet, rather than receiving the praise she deserves, Reese is constantly subjected to skepticism and criticism, much of it driven by deep-seated biases and a culture of double standards that Black women in America have long had to navigate.
In a nail-biting game where Chicago edged out Atlanta in the final 6.4 seconds, Reese’s performance was nothing short of pivotal. She secured her historic double-double with two clutch free throws, showcasing her skill and composure under pressure. However, instead of celebrating her accomplishments, many Caitlin Clark fans have been quick to discredit her success. They claim she manipulates the game and question her style of play, casting aspersions on her remarkable achievements.
The so-called feud between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, largely a construct of their fans, has only intensified this criticism. While both athletes excel in their own right, the comparisons often reveal an ugly undertone rooted not in basketball but in racial biases. Reese’s accomplishments are frequently met with suspicion and negativity, with detractors accusing her of padding her stats by catching her own rebounds or criticizing her style as lacking finesse.
This scrutiny is not unique to Reese but reflects a broader societal issue. Black women in America are often expected to work twice as hard to receive half the recognition. When Black women make things look too easy, they’re questioned if they’re even working hard to begin with.
Angel Reese epitomizes this dynamic. Her unyielding drive and commitment to her team should be celebrated, not questioned. The criticism she faces is less about her actual performance and more about the discomfort her success causes in a society that still grapples with deeply ingrained racial biases. The fake outrage from some Caitlin Clark fans, who claim Reese is manipulating the game, and the shady comments about her style of play reveal more about the critics than about Reese herself. At the end of the day, her teammate passed her the ball, and she was fouled by the opponent. She made her double-double fair and square.
These comments are not just about basketball; they are about how some people view Black women. Black women are often subject to unfair scrutiny and are expected to outperform to gain recognition, and even then it’s met with skepticism.
The criticism of Reese’s accomplishments is rooted in racism. While interacting with fans online, I couldn’t help but notice the unyielding support of Kate Martin, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces. Martin averages only 3 points a game and is praised for every little thing she does, while many of those same fans criticize Angel Reese’s success. Now, how did Kate get in this? That’s a good question. I used her as an example because she’s not a part of the Caitlin Clark feud; she’s just simply another young woman from Iowa who gets an insane amount of love while doing the bare minimum, and even when she plays her heart out, it’s still not the same level of impact that Angel Reese makes. Now, how can everyone love and admire a player who averages three points a game and hate a person that is scoring double-doubles for 14 consecutive games? I believe people will tell you every nuance in the book and still find a way to discredit the accomplishments Angel Reese has contributed to the WNBA.
