Angel Reese sounded off Monday on the great debate about the WNBA's rise in popularity, crediting herself as much as Caitlin Clark for bringing in new fans. On Tuesday, the spotlight landed right back on the Sky rookie.
Reese was ejected late in Chicago's loss to the Liberty, getting tossed with under three minutes remaining. She had already recorded a double-double when she was sent back to the locker room, though the game was virtually out of reach for the Sky by that point.
The ejection shocked not only Reese, but Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, as well. The broadcast caught Ionescu asking the official why the rookie was tossed as Reese protested the decision.
Here's a closer look at what Reese did to earn an ejection against New York.
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Why was Angel Reese ejected?
Reese is known for her physicality, but it wasn't exactly an interaction with another player that got her sent off the court on Tuesday. She complained to an official after being called for her fifth foul of the night, and the official simply didn't like what he heard.
Reese could be seen dismissively waving off the official, visibly upset about the call, and she evidently said something to him, as well. He hit her with a double technical foul, which is an automatic ejection.
Angel Reese was ejected from tonight's game following this exchange with the referee. pic.twitter.com/rOMo1Wdwja
— Marquee Sky (@SkyMarquee) June 5, 2024
What did Reese say to prompt a double technical? Ionescu's hot mic moment might provide the answer. "She got two techs just for saying 'that's bulls---?'" the Liberty star asked the official.
Whether that's enough to warrant an ejection is highly debatable, and it's apparently not something Ionescu is used to seeing on a WNBA court. It wasn't something injured Bulls guard Lonzo Ball wanted to see, either. Ball, in attendance at Wintrust Arena, called the official "weak" for ejecting Reese.
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
The play itself was mostly innocuous compared to an ejection. Reese was called for reaching in on Jonquel Jones while going for a rebound near the end of a game that was mostly decided already. That wasn't why Reese was ejected, though. Her comments and dismissive waving crossed a line in the official's eyes, and the ejection drew stunned reactions on the court from Reese's Sky teammates, including Elizabeth Williams.
Evidently, the WNBA didn't agree with the officials' decision to eject Reese. The league rescinded one of the technicals assessed to Reese on Wednesday, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.
MORE: Details on Angel Reese's rookie contract with Sky
Angel Reese stats vs. Liberty
Reese is one of many rookies going through a challenging adjustment period early in her WNBA career. The Sky forward posted her second career double-double on Tuesday, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but she shot just 3-of-12 from the field and committed five fouls.
Reese was able to make up for her inefficiency by drawing fouls and going 7-of-8 from the line, but on a night when the Sky shot just 32 percent from the field and attempted 25 fewer 3-pointers when the Liberty, it wasn't nearly enough.
The 22-year-old is averaging 10.9 points and 9.0 rebounds through her first eight WNBA games, though efficiency continues to lag behind as she adjusts to the professional level.
