Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, affectionately known as the “Chi-Town Barbie,” has powerfully responded to the intensifying scrutiny she has faced early in the 2025 WNBA season. Despite the team's challenging 2-6 record and a recent 85-66 loss to the New York Liberty, Reese has publicly demonstrated her resilience and defiance, asserting that she is not deterred by criticism.

Reese channeled NBA icon LeBron James in a recent Instagram post, sharing a photo carousel filled with messages of confidence and determination. A standout image recreated James's famous meme, showing Reese laughing with her hand on her forehead, captioned: “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life.” She further emphasized her stance with another slide featuring a practice photo and the provocative quote: “Imagine hating me and I like it.” In her caption, she shared profound insights, stating, “Every successful person you admire survived a season you didn’t see. Idols turn into rivals. Everything becomes about survival.” Reese explained that she views basketball as a microcosm of life's ups and downs, acknowledging that her journey is uniquely her own. She expressed gratitude for her blessings, stating, “I wake up every day and I’m blessed. I get to come to work and play the game that I love.” She further elaborated on her appreciation for her current life and her ability to support her family, embracing her growth period with the Sky and the journey toward her goals. Reese affirmed her self-compassion, adding, “I think I just try to give myself a lot of grace, because I am young and I’m still trying to figure things out, and I don’t make any excuses.”

Reese’s teammate, Ariel Atkins, fiercely defended her following the loss to the Liberty. During the post-game press conference, Atkins passionately intervened when a reporter posed a question unrelated to basketball. “This is a 23-year-old kid and the amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day, she still shows up,” Atkins asserted, redirecting the focus to basketball-related inquiries. Atkins commended Reese’s performance in the game, where she recorded 17 points, 11 rebounds, and achieved 61.5% efficiency. She emphasized Reese’s emotional fortitude, remarking that “Her crown is heavy” and that Reese must build a “wall” to withstand the relentless pressure, stating, “Because if she doesn’t, people will break her down.” Atkins’ vocal support resonated with Reese, who later expressed her gratitude to her teammate.

Amidst the team’s struggles, Reese also publicly supported Chicago Sky's first-year head coach, Tyler Marsh, who has also faced criticism. Reese stated, “We have to give Tyler grace because he’s a rookie coach, too. He’s the head coach, but it’s us on the floor. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and be patient with ourselves and continue to just grind. We don’t point the finger.” Coach Marsh reciprocated Reese’s sentiment, expressing his appreciation: “I appreciate those comments from Angel. Our players are the ones who deserve the grace. I know what comes with the territory of being a head coach. I accept that for better or for worse.”

Despite the team’s difficulties, Reese continues to demonstrate her talent. She recently made WNBA history by becoming the fastest player to achieve 30 career double-doubles, notably finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the game against the Liberty. This season, Reese is averaging 10.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Her performance builds on a record-setting rookie season, where she was the fastest player to reach 20 double-doubles. The Chicago Sky, currently on a two-game losing streak, faces the Atlanta Dream next. As the team navigates its rebuilding phase, Reese's unwavering resolve and consistent performance remain a significant positive.