Angel Reese is on top of the world right now, and her trade from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream has been an absolute godsend for everyone involved. She’s not just a World Cup gold medalist; this woman is the AP and WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Like that wasn’t enough, the Dream have officially punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals! They’re geared up to face the Golden State Valkyries in a best-of-seven series kicking off this Saturday. It’s truly incredible.
The Unstoppable Ascent of Angel Reese
Reese’s climb to this pinnacle has been something else to witness, especially when you think about where she started. From the moment she exploded onto the national scene, she became this lightning rod for a toxic culture war she never asked for. Remember when she led her LSU Tigers over Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in that 2023 NCAA national championship? Her “you can’t see me” celebration? That moment lit a fuse, igniting the rage of those who just can’t handle the success of a confident, young Black woman. The racist and sexist garbage directed her way hasn’t stopped since. Even when she was battling through all the trials with the Sky, the team that drafted her No. 7 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, there were folks out there straight up banking on her to fail. They wanted her to fit their messed up political and cultural agendas, where Black women are constantly undervalued, underappreciated, and underprotected. But look at her now. Reese is on the verge of ultimate success, and all that venom from the outside? Their chickens are absolutely coming home to roost.
More Than A Game: Angel Reese and Megan Thee Stallion’s Shared Truth
This kind of reckoning isn’t just about basketball, though. It mirrors another powerful Black woman who has endured similar scrutiny but remained her confident, unapologetic self: Megan Thee Stallion. Just like Reese owns the court, Stallion commands the stage with the same ethos. She’s a living extension of hip hop’s rich history, where women are completely liberated in every facet of their being. Megan blends the super-charged bravado of MC Lyte with the pure bodily autonomy of Lil’ Kim. She gets to be her full, authentic self without ever having to compromise. And much like Reese’s journey, Megan has felt the brutal impact of public scrutiny. We all remember the 2020 incident where she was shot by her then-boyfriend Tory Lanez. Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2022 on charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and grossly negligent discharge of a firearm. Even with his legal team arguing he didn’t fire the shot, suggesting a third party, and filing appeals, Lanez still got support from prominent hip-hop artists. Meanwhile, Megan was painted as the villain, subjected to vicious victim-blaming. The paths of Reese and Megan eventually crossed, and they’ve built a sisterhood rooted in mutual respect and shared experiences of what it means to be young Black women standing strong in their truths.
This Saturday, it’s go time. Angel Reese steps onto the WNBA Finals stage, and you know she’s bringing that fire. It’s more than just a championship series; it’s a testament to resilience, truth, and the undeniable power of these women. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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