Angel Reese and Chicago Sky Fined for Violating WNBA Media Availability Rules After Loss to Fever

The WNBA announced on Sunday that Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky have been fined for failing to comply with the league’s media responsibilities following the team’s 71-70 loss to the Indiana Fever. This game marked the first professional meeting between Reese and No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark.

According to the league’s press release:

Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky has been fined $1,000 for not making herself available to the media for interviews following the game on Saturday, June 1, against Indiana.

Additionally, the Sky organization has been fined $5,000 for not ensuring that all players adhere to WNBA media policies.

The league’s media access policy for postgame availability states:

– No later than 10 minutes after the game, each head coach and two players (leading scorer and key contributor) per team must be available in separate press conference rooms for in-person and Zoom media.
– After the team’s press conferences, any players not participating at the podium may be requested for interviews by in-person media only. These “additional players” must be available in a suitable location such as the interview room or hallway outside the locker room.
– All players must remain in the building until all media obligations are met.

The Sky brought Chennedy Carter and Kamilla Cardoso to the podium, along with coach Teresa Weatherspoon. Carter did not answer questions about the third-quarter incident where she shoulder-checked Clark, a foul later upgraded to a Flagrant 1 upon league review on Sunday.

As Reese was not at the podium, she was required to be available to in-person media outside the locker room, but it is unclear why she did not speak.

Reese finished the game with eight points and 13 rebounds. She is averaging 10.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game this season. She ranks second in scoring, first in rebounding, and first in steals among rookies, and leads the league with 5.0 offensive rebounds per game.