Chicago Sky top scorer and forward Angel Reese was in the news last week after allegedly refusing to wear a team-issued shirt in recognition of Candace Parker’s retirement ceremony.
All Sky players were supposed to wear the shirt, which was decorated with Parker’s No. 3 jersey number as part of pregame warm-up, but Reese was seen covering hers, an incident that did not pass unnoticed.
What happened at the court
The two-time WNBA MVP and Chicago Sky icon Candace Parker recently confirmed her retirement, with her teammates giving her a warm goodbye. At the ceremony, every player received special shirts to commemorate Parker’s time with the team. However, Reese did not wear the shirt, and fans and commentators were left wondering why.
This action comes after a prior strained relationship between Parker and Reese. Several weeks ago, Parker publicly ranked Reese in the “C-Tier” of WNBA players, and Reese subtly fired back on social media with a post interpreted as a shot directed at Parker.
A very noisy public reaction
Reese’s action has divided the WNBA fan base. While some have justified her action based on an athlete’s freedom of speech, others viewed it as an insult to Parker, a legend of women’s basketball. Social media also had its share of mixed responses coming from an empathetic acknowledgment of Reese’s try to fight criticism, with some others viewing her action as “disrespectful” towards the retired legend.
Experts say that while such incidents like this make headlines, they also raise the issue of team chemistry. Whether Parker and Reese can enhance their working relationship in the future would influence the morale and performance of the team for the rest of the season.
Reese held his tongue regarding the retirement of Parker’s jersey in public, and the gate is still left open to welcome every speculation. Fans debate and wait to determine whether the subsequent events with the players or official team announcements clarify matters. In the meantime, fans continue talking about respect, competition, and individual freedom in professional sport.
Read the full article here
