“I’m Not the Villain”: Angel Reese Faces Backlash After Blowout Loss to Caitlin Clark
The scoreboard didn’t lie — Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever delivered a stunning 96–67 rout of Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky, turning what was meant to be a fierce rookie rivalry into a one-sided showcase.
Clark dominated with 33 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, silencing critics and energizing fans. Reese, however, struggled with just 6 points and 5 fouls, eventually getting benched as her team unraveled.
But it was Reese’s emotional postgame comments that drew the most heat:
“Y’all act like I’m the villain. I’m just out here trying to hoop.”
Social media quickly turned, calling her comments a deflection. Hashtags like #InstantKarma and #ReesePlaysVictim trended as fans compared her preseason confidence to her underwhelming performance.
Analysts were blunt. ESPN’s Monica McNutt said, “Angel has the tools, but keeps shifting focus to her image instead of her game.”
Meanwhile, Clark kept it classy:
“She’s a competitor. I’m proud of my team tonight.”
As Reese’s stats continue to dip and pressure mounts for a rotation change, one truth remains:
In the WNBA, talk won’t save you — performance will.