Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese was ejected in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s 88-75 loss to the visiting New York Liberty after drawing two technical fouls for disagreeing with an official.
Reese was called for his fifth personal foul at 2:31, then two technical fouls by the same official, Charles Watson. Reese appeared to say something to Watson, then quickly waved her hand.
“I tried to get an explanation. I didn’t,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said in a postgame news conference. “To this day I don’t know what happened.”
Referee Maj Forsberg told reporters after the game that Reese’s technical fouls were for “disrespecting” the official and then “waving his hand at the dismissal.”
Reese, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes, did not appear at the news conference. Reese’s ski teammate Marina Mabrey was on the court when Reese was ejected, and Reese was asked about the exchange with the official.
“She got two technicals and she said something to the ref,” Mabrey said. “He felt whatever he thought was the right call. It’s about composure for us in our youth in the WNBA. You have to know the cues and how they respond.”
Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls, who attended the game, told X that Reese faces a $400 fine from the WNBA for two technical fouls.
For the first three technical fouls in a season, the WNBA imposes a $200 fine for each. Four to six technicians receive fines of $400 each. $800 fine and one game suspension for the seventh technical foul. Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Cloud each have three technicals this season.
“@Reese10Angel kicked out ref weak btw,” Paul wrote. “You Know Who You Are (Keep the Money Angel I Got You).”
Reese replied: “I appreciate your gang!”
It was the first game for the Sky since Tuesday’s 71-70 loss at Indiana, in which Chicago guard Chennady Carter was called for a foul when she shoulder-checked Clark from behind and knocked her to the floor. That foul was upgraded to a fatal 1 on Sunday after a review by the league. In addition, Reese was fined $1,000 and the Sky organization $5,000 after Saturday’s game for violating the league’s media policy because Reese was not available to the media.
Carter received a standing ovation from the Sky crowd at Wintrust Arena when he entered Tuesday’s game. He scored 16 points off Chicago’s bench (3-5).
The Sky led the Liberty 66-65 after three quarters, but were outscored 23-9 by New York (8-2) in the fourth. Breanna Stewart led Liberty with 33 points and 14 rebounds.
“You can’t melt against them,” Mabrey said of the Sky’s fourth-quarter struggles. “And at the end of the day, we’re melted and it’s peaceful.”
