Megan Rapinoe has voiced support for Angel Reese after the WNBA star revealed she is willing to avoid media obligations and simply absorb fines during the season rather than continue what she described as a strained relationship with reporters.
Reese made the comments during an appearance on former first lady Michelle Obama’s “IMO” podcast in late April, explaining she would prefer paying penalties over engaging in repeated media sessions she feels have misrepresented her words.
The 23-year-old forward has also criticized sections of the media, claiming her statements have often been taken out of context and used to drive narratives she does not recognise as accurate. “I’ll take a fine before I have to go media and feel like my back is against the wall,” Reese said. Meanwhile, LeBron James’s high school GPA emerges during NBA Playoffs vs OKC Thunder.
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Rapinoe strongly backed Reese’s approach to handling the media during an episode of her podcast “A Touch More” on Thursday, describing it as “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.”
While athletes are typically required to fulfil regular media obligations throughout the WNBA season, Rapinoe argued that players in the league should rethink the current standards around sports media access, suggesting there is room for a more player-driven approach to press engagement.
Megan Rapinoe has defended Angel Reese -Credit:Getty Images
“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. The 40-year-old added that Reese’s comments serve as a strong example for athletes more broadly, arguing they highlight the need to challenge existing media expectations and push for fairer standards.
“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.”
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Not everyone agrees with Rapinoe’s stance, with critics arguing that postgame interviews are a core part of being a professional athlete rather than optional extras. Media availability is seen as a key way for players to engage fans and build their personal brands, and for a growing league, limiting press access could be viewed as counterproductive to expanding its audience.
Reese, who was selected by the Chicago Sky in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft, was traded to the Atlanta Dream in April after reportedly signalling she wanted a change following Chicago’s 10–34 campaign last season.