The basketball world is in an uproar after Hall of Famer and WNBA icon Cynthia Cooper unexpectedly came to the defense of Angel Reese, the 23-year-old star who has become the center of a lot of controversy.
Over the past several weeks, Reese has faced a wave of criticism. From mocking her playing style, to sexist and racially charged comments, to terrifying threats from basketball fans themselves. Some critics have even called her a “burden” on the team, while others have called Reese’s confidence and aggressive attitude “disrespectful to the sport.”
But then, in a shocking statement, Cynthia Cooper broke the silence:
“This is not just an injustice. This is a crime against basketball. Angel Reese was more than just a player; she was a living example of strength, resilience, and courage. To make her the target of hate is a betrayal of the very spirit of the sport.”
Cooper’s words immediately sparked public opinion. When a legend with four WNBA championships and countless international titles said this, everyone was forced to listen.
Reese, meanwhile, showed up at her latest practice with red eyes but still smiling. She simply said:
“I never asked for people to love me. I just asked to be respected as an athlete, and as a person.”
Within hours, social media was flooded with the hashtag #StandWithReese. Many NBA and WNBA players voiced their support. “If a legend like Cynthia dares to call it a crime, then we are clearly facing a painful truth: basketball is not always fair to those who are different,” said a teammate of Reese.
The sports media is also divided. One side believes Reese must accept the pressure because it is “the price of fame.” But the other side agrees with Cooper, asserting that the hatred Reese has received has gone beyond sports criticism and into a personal attack.
What is undeniable: Reese – at 23 – is carrying on her shoulders not only the responsibility of a young athlete, but also the expectations, hopes and pressures of a new generation in American women’s basketball.
One sports commentator wrote: “Angel Reese has become an unwilling icon. And if we do not protect people like her, the future of basketball will lose the luster it needs.”
