Lonzo Ball Defends Angel Reese After Her First Career Ejection

June 5, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese was ejected for the first time in her career Tuesday night during the team’s 88–75 loss to the New York Liberty.

Lonzo Ball saw the play unfold from his seat at Wintrust Arena and posted to social media shortly after the ejection to support the 22-year-old rookie.

Ref that threw out @Reese10Angel is weak btw… You know who you are (Keep ya money Angel I got you)

— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) June 5, 2024

He even vowed to pay for the $400 fine she will face in the coming days — $200 for each technical foul. Reese appreciated the words of support.

💞😭appreciate you gang! https://t.co/Aupf0jJU6N

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) June 5, 2024

Reese was ejected with 2:31 remaining in the fourth quarter after an exchange with referee Charles Watson that led to two technical fouls. After the game, lead official Maj Forsberg told the Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe that Reese was given her first tech for “disrespectfully addressing” the official and the second tech for waving off the referee.

Angel Reese was ejected from tonight’s game after being given a double technical on this exchange with the ref

(via @SkyMarquee)pic.twitter.com/cCmfEZZU11

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 5, 2024

The $400 fine marks Reese’s second financial penalty she has faced this season. Reese was fined $1,000 this past weekend for not speaking to the media after the Sky’s 71–70 loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

Reese registered 13 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes before getting ejected, notching her second double-double through eight games to start her WNBA career.

4 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

How Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Fared in WNBA Preseason Debut With Sky

Former collegiate basketball stars Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso made their long-awaited WNBA preseason debuts Friday night during the Chicago Sky's exhibition against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center.

Reese, who became a household name while leading LSU to a national championship in 2023, joined the Sky's starting five on Friday alongside Elizabeth Williams, Diamond DeShields, Marina Mabrey and Dana Evans. Cardoso, the reigning national champion out of South Carolina, came off the Sky's bench.

In 24 minutes, Reese scored 13 points on 2-of-7 shooting and tallied nine rebounds, two steals and one block.

Cardoso's night ended early, however, after she went down hard on her right shoulder in the first half. She didn't play at all in the second half, registering just six points on 3-of-5 shooting, four rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes.

The Lynx edged the Sky, 92–87, behind 17 points from guard Courtney Williams.

The two rookie phenoms connected on a bucket in the second quarter when Reese dished Cardoso a pass in the paint, and the former Gamecocks star rolled it in for two points.

The Sky selected both players in the first round of the 2024 WNBA draft last month. Cardoso was the No. 3 pick after the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the top pick and Cameron Brink went to the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 2. Chicago selected Reese at No. 7, a pick the Sky acquired in a trade with the Lynx in April.

Chicago will wrap up the preseason Tuesday against the New York Liberty before officially beginning the 2024 regular season May 15.

7 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Fans Loved Angel Reese’s Met Gala Look

It's been quite a stretch for Angel Reese. She helped take LSU to the Elite Eight in her final collegiate season, and was picked seventh in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. To top it all off, Reese attended Monday night's Met Gala in a stunning outfit, and everybody was in awe.

The fact that Reese managed to attend at all is pretty remarkable, given she practiced in Chicago earlier that day. The Sky's season debut is on May 15. Practicing and then flying out to New York City and undergo what must've been hours of prep for the red carpet walk isn't easy and certainly is not usually something rookies can do. But Reese is not just any rookie.

Even scattered amongst the biggest stars of all, Reese shined on Monday night in a 16 Arlington dress.

WNBA Draft, Training Camp, Preseason Game and...THE MET GALA.✨
Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) continues to put women's basketball at the forefront, even in the fashion world.
She's the first WNBA rookie to attend the event and wore a STUNNING seafoam green dress by 16 Arlington. pic.twitter.com/qBiFCFsfFk
— WSLAM (@wslam) May 7, 2024

Everyone loved it.

Angel Reese at THE Met Gala.
Now that is IMPACT. pic.twitter.com/DaVtiKgx3V
— stas (@yourgirlayedub) May 6, 2024

Angel Reese at the Met Gala 🤩 pic.twitter.com/nmxpFQxt1A
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 7, 2024

Angel Reese is a prime example of someone who refuses to keep herself boxed into one category. She’s a basketball player and a fashion girlie.
Why limit yourself?
— Ore Nicole (@Ore_Nicole) May 7, 2024

National Championship run for your 21st birthday, Met Gala for your 22nd. Angel Reese is really that girl. pic.twitter.com/D9FX2mbor4
— DJSukiG (@SukiGeez) May 7, 2024

Gave coach @Finisher_11 a whole practice and hit the Met Gala like Boss 👑 Keep Pushin! ♟️ https://t.co/XlLSfzgRzD
— Swin Cash (@SwinCash) May 7, 2024

🔥 https://t.co/jfdYgUJhoA
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) May 7, 2024

STUNNING. https://t.co/cUIGdeWex9
— LaChina Robinson (@LaChinaRobinson) May 7, 2024

As if there was any remaining doubt that Reese is going to push the limits of what's possible whenever she can, the rookie forward was back in Chicago on Tuesday morning to prepare for the Sky's next preseason matchup against the New York Liberty. She probably wishes the game was at Barclays Center, but this makes for a better story.

Angel Reese on maximizing your 24HRS.
The Sky rookie is back in Chicago, gearing up for her first game at Wintrust Arena after spending the evening at the Met Gala in NYC. pic.twitter.com/9GWLsnDNti
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) May 7, 2024

A whirlwind of a 24 hours for Reese after a whirlwind of a month.

2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Heaps Praise on Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Before Sky-Fever Game

Over the last two years, the friendly rivalry between Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has elevated two games—women's college basketball and the WNBA—to never-before-seen heights.

Like all truly great sports rivalries, however, Clark and Reese's rivalry is built on mutual respect. On Saturday morning, Clark demonstrated that by praising both Reese and Sky center Kamilla Cardoso before the Fever played Chicago in the afternoon.

"The thing about (Reese), she's been so dominant at what she does ever since we played in high school," Clark said via Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. "She's always had a knack for being able to rebound the ball and that's just translated immediately to the WNBA."

Caitlin Clark had high praise for Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso ahead of today’s game.
“(Angel) has been so dominant at what she does ever since we played in high school.”
“Kamilla is just scratching the surface of her potential.” pic.twitter.com/ur1dBNA93f
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) June 1, 2024

Reese entered Saturday averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, ninth in the WNBA.

"Kamilla caused us a lot of problems in the national championship," Clark said of Cardoso. "Kamilla is just scratching the surface of her potential... it's been a lot of fun to watch those two kind of evolve over their college careers."

Each of the trio had a role to play in Indiana's eventual 71–70 win. Clark scored 11 points, pulled down eight rebounds and gave out eight assists; Reese scored eight points and pulled down 13 rebounds; Cardoso scored 11 points and had six rebounds.

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Lonzo Ball Defends Angel Reese After Her First Career Ejection

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