Game 6 of the WNBA Finals is officially set for Thursday at State Farm Arena, with Angel Reese’s Atlanta Dream slated to host Gabby Williams’ Golden State Valkyries in a 12:30 p.m. ET tip-off. But before anyone could even think about Game 6, analyst Jason Whitlock ignited a firestorm on Monday, dropping a scorching tweet that ripped into the WNBA and, it certainly seemed, took a direct shot at Reese’s star power.
Whitlock’s ‘Charity League’ Jab And What It Really Means
Whitlock did not hold back, lashing out at the league’s scheduling “uncertainty” for Game 6. He tweeted that “Upstart leagues that lose millions of dollars every year for 30 years don’t get to dictate when they play inside any arena.” He didn’t stop there, calling it a “charity league with one major attraction,” implying that without that “major attraction” (which he’s likened to a “soap opera superstar” in the past, likely referring to Caitlin Clark), the WNBA has no leverage. Whitlock’s whole point is that the WNBA had no business trying to get a Thursday night slot at State Farm Arena, especially when the Atlanta Hawks already had a home game scheduled. In his view, the Dream-Valkyries series apparently doesn’t have the star power to demand such a prime-time slot, making the 12:30 p.m. tip “make sense.”
Angel Reese: The Dream’s Entire Season Rests On Her Shoulders
In stark contrast to Whitlock’s take, ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike painted a very different picture of the Dream’s key player. When asked on Monday’s “SportsCenter” about the most crucial factor for Atlanta’s Game 5 performance, Ogwumike didn’t hesitate, delivering a simple “Two words: Angel Reese.” She emphasized that “when she has big games, Atlanta wins. When she struggles, that’s when the Valkyries take advantage.” That’s a huge statement about Reese’s impact. Just look at Game 4: Reese had her worst outing of the series, putting up only eight points and nine rebounds. The Valkyries capitalized big time, holding the Dream to a dismal 33.3% shooting, which allowed them to tie the series at 2-2.
With the WNBA Finals tied 2-2 and all this drama swirling, the stakes for Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream are absolutely through the roof. Game 5, held on the Valkyries’ home floor at Chase Center, tips off tonight, Monday, at 8 p.m. ET. Every move Reese makes is going to be scrutinized, and she’s got a chance to prove Whitlock’s “charity league” talk completely wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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