Angel Reese’s Flagrant Foul Sparks Controversy in Liberty Victory

Brooklyn, New York – With 7:22 remaining in the third quarter during Tuesday’s matchup, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese was called for a foul after making contact with the New York Liberty‘s Leonie Fiebich. Initially deemed a common foul, officials reviewed the play and upgraded it to a Flagrant 1.

As Fiebich returned to her position on the court, ESPN announcers Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo expressed their expectations that the foul would remain classified as common. Ruocco noted during the review, “I didn’t see Reese extend her arms, which is a sign of a flagrant foul. It was just a bump.” He remarked it was “an unnecessary foul” but believed it did not warrant the heightened penalty.

After the flagrant foul was confirmed, Ruocco was visibly surprised, while Lobo highlighted a potential contributing factor: the incident occurred to Fiebich’s blind side. “If you have that same contact on just an illegal screen, it would be nothing,” she said.

Despite the tumultuous foul call, Reese had an impressive performance, recording 17 points and 11 rebounds for her 30th career double-double. However, the Sky fell decisively to the Liberty, 85-66.

Chicago is grappling with the loss of veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who suffered a torn ACL in a previous game and will be out for the season. Angel Reese commented positively on her teammates, Hailey Van Lith and Rachel Banham, saying, “They’ve worked hard, and I know we’ve prepared for this moment.”

The Liberty entered the match undefeated with an 8-0 record, contrasting with the Sky’s struggles; they fell to 2-6 after the loss. Reese’s performance follows a disappointing outing against the Liberty on May 22, where she scored only two points.

Reese remains optimistic about improving her performance this season despite the challenges. “I could sit and mope around, but I take accountability,” she said. Her efforts continue to attract attention, not just for her play but for the ongoing comparison with fellow star Caitlin Clark.

Sky Head Coach Tyler Marsh praised Reese’s competitiveness, saying, “I think what we saw tonight is who Angel is.” Marsh noted Reese’s aggressiveness in demanding her spots on the court and being a supportive teammate.

Continuing to face scrutiny, Reese embraced her role and the support from her teammates after the game. “I don’t have to prove anything to anybody besides myself and my teammates,” she stated.