WNBA discussion thread?

[Franklin Pierce]

Courtney Vandersloot Responds to Angel Reese, Says Age Is 'not a factor' And She'll Return To Sky Next Season​

Reese Made Disparaging Comments about Vandersloot and Other Teammates to the media​

Chicago Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot has been sidelined since June 7 with a torn ACL, but found herself in headlines this week after All-Star forward Angel Reese said that the team could not rely on her as their starting point guard next season.

In an interview with Sky broadcaster Shimmy Miller, which was taped prior to the team's win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday but surfaced online on Saturday, Vandersloot responded to Reese and stated that she plans to return to Chicago next season.

"Contrary to what people say or think, my age is absolutely not a factor. I am coming back," the 36-year-old Vandersloot said. "I'm gonna come back better than ever because that's what I've done. I've put myself in the position to come back and compete at this age."

In a lengthy interview with the Chicago Tribune earlier this week, Reese aired her frustrations with the front office, coaching staff and roster construction, and called for major moves in free agency this winter.

Reese also critiqued multiple teammates, including Vandersloot, Rachel Banham and Hailey Van Lith, and said that she and fellow second-year big Kamilla Cardoso are the only guaranteed returners. Reese's comments about Vandersloot were particularly notable.


"We can't rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she's at," Reese said. "I know she'll be a great asset for us, but we can't rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who's been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before."

Courtney Vandersloot responds to Angel Reese, says age is 'not a factor' and she'll return to Sky next season

Reese made disparaging comments about Vandersloot and other teammates to the media

www.cbssports.com

 

[chuckiepoo]

Courtney Vandersloot Responds to Angel Reese, Says Age Is 'not a factor' And She'll Return To Sky Next Season​

Reese Made Disparaging Comments about Vandersloot and Other Teammates to the media​

Jack Maloney
Chicago Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot has been sidelined since June 7 with a torn ACL, but found herself in headlines this week after All-Star forward Angel Reese said that the team could not rely on her as their starting point guard next season.

In an interview with Sky broadcaster Shimmy Miller, which was taped prior to the team's win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday but surfaced online on Saturday, Vandersloot responded to Reese and stated that she plans to return to Chicago next season.




In a lengthy interview with the Chicago Tribune earlier this week, Reese aired her frustrations with the front office, coaching staff and roster construction, and called for major moves in free agency this winter.

Reese also critiqued multiple teammates, including Vandersloot, Rachel Banham and Hailey Van Lith, and said that she and fellow second-year big Kamilla Cardoso are the only guaranteed returners. Reese's comments about Vandersloot were particularly notable.


"We can't rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she's at," Reese said. "I know she'll be a great asset for us, but we can't rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who's been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before."

Courtney Vandersloot responds to Angel Reese, says age is 'not a factor' and she'll return to Sky next season

Reese made disparaging comments about Vandersloot and other teammates to the media

www.cbssports.com

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Angel Reese injury update: Sky star Questionable vs. Aces on Tuesday due to back issue​

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has been listed as questionable for their game against the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday due to a back injury. Reese, who has made headlines for the wrong reasons recently, missed 10 games due to a back injury earlier this season, and it flared up again on Sunday.

Reese had been suspended for the first half of Sunday's game "because of statements detrimental to the team," but she ended up sitting out of the entire game due to her back.

"She reported it to us during pre-game, and so in conjunction with the medical staff, we wanted to be as cautious as possible," Sky coach Tyler Marsh said. He added that Reese "wants to be out there" for the Sky's final two games, but the team will "gauge [her status] day-by-day."

Angel Reese injury update: Sky star questionable vs. Aces on Tuesday due to back issue

Reese's back flared up on Sunday and she sat out of the second half against the Aces following her first-half suspension

www.cbssports.com

Sky coach explains why Angel Reese did not play in second half after first-half suspension vs. Aces

 

[madtownvol]

View attachment 772009

I know its Angel and she is the devil incarnate and everything she says is straight from the mouth of Satan. But Satan is not wrong here. If a team thinks a soon to be 37 year old PG coming off an ACL tear is going to lead them to greatness, they need a new GM. I am a Vandersloot fan and she can play a positive role next season for the Fire but it would as the back-up PG and as a locker room leader. Beyond the PG issue, the Fire are a terrible team and the players AR critiqued are deserving of some critical commentary.

Making these statements in public is courting controversy but she may see it as a way to force the Sky's hand, get better or trade me.

On the men's side, when Anthony Edwards calls out teammates, he hailed for showing great leadership and a will to win. The double standard is noticeable.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I know its Angel and she is the devil incarnate and everything she says is straight from the mouth of Satan. But Satan is not wrong here. If a team thinks a soon to be 37 year old PG coming off an ACL tear is going to lead them to greatness, they need a new GM. I am a Vandersloot fan and she can play a positive role next season for the Fire but it would as the back-up PG and as a locker room leader. Beyond the PG issue, the Fire are a terrible team and the players AR critiqued are deserving of some critical commentary.

Making these statements in public is courting controversy but she may see it as a way to force the Sky's hand, get better or trade me.

On the men's side, when Anthony Edwards calls out teammates, he hailed for showing great leadership and a will to win. The double standard is noticeable.

Ain’t working out so well for Edwards either:

Edwards' 18th tech forces him out of Wolves' finale

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards was slapped with his NBA-high18th technical foul of the season. That prompts an automatic suspension for the next game, which the Timberwolves need to win to improve their seed for the playoffs.

www.espn.com

 

[madtownvol]

Ain’t working out so well for Edwards either:

Edwards' 18th tech forces him out of Wolves' finale

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards was slapped with his NBA-high18th technical foul of the season. That prompts an automatic suspension for the next game, which the Timberwolves need to win to improve their seed for the playoffs.

www.espn.com

But he still gets celebrated for his competitive "fire."

 

[chuckiepoo]

But he still gets celebrated for his competitive "fire."

I have to actively keep my mind open with regard to Ms Reese. Personally? She strikes me as a bitch. That doesn’t preclude her as having an MVP quality ceiling, nor me admiring her game.

Do i believe throwing teammates under the bus qualifies as leadership? Not so much. Even if they suck pretty bad or are missing games to “manage” their season exposure to injury.

 

[madtownvol]

I have to actively keep my mind open with regard to Ms Reese. Personally? She strikes me as a bitch. That doesn’t preclude her as having an MVP quality ceiling, nor me admiring her game.

Do i believe throwing teammates under the bus qualifies as leadership? Not so much. Even if they suck pretty bad or are missing games to “manage” their season exposure to injury.

I think AR might agree with being called a "bitch," in the re-appropriative sense of the word:

Per AI, a woman described as a "bitch" in a positive light may be seen as:

• Assertive and confident: She is self-assured and does not back down from what she believes in.
• Powerful and independent: She has taken control of her life and is not afraid to challenge authority or social expectations.
• Unapologetic: She does not feel the need to please others and is comfortable with being outspoken.
• A strong leader: She is direct and demanding, a quality that is often celebrated in men but historically criticized in women.
• Resistant to bigotry: By owning the term, she takes away its power as an insult.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think AR might agree with being called a "bitch," in the re-appropriative sense of the word:

Per AI, a woman described as a "bitch" in a positive light may be seen as:

• Assertive and confident: She is self-assured and does not back down from what she believes in.
• Powerful and independent: She has taken control of her life and is not afraid to challenge authority or social expectations.
• Unapologetic: She does not feel the need to please others and is comfortable with being outspoken.
• A strong leader: She is direct and demanding, a quality that is often celebrated in men but historically criticized in women.
• Resistant to bigotry: By owning the term, she takes away its power as an insult.

“In a feminist context, it can indicate a strong or assertive woman and has therefore been reappropriated by some women.”
- wiki

I saw what you did there.

From a dictionary: “A woman or girl who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive, or dominant.”

 

[Coach Jumper]

“In a feminist context, it can indicate a strong or assertive woman and has therefore been reappropriated by some women.”
- wiki

I saw what you did there.

From a dictionary: “A woman or girl who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive, or dominant.”

I want to say it so bad...

 

[madtownvol]

“In a feminist context, it can indicate a strong or assertive woman and has therefore been reappropriated by some women.”
- wiki

I saw what you did there.

From a dictionary: “A woman or girl who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive, or dominant.”

I was not trying to be subtle about the feminist reappropriation of the term. I assume you are highlighting the sexist connotations of the dictionary definition,

 

[chuckiepoo]

I was not trying to be subtle about the feminist reappropriation of the term. I assume you are highlighting the sexist connotations of the dictionary definition,

Just to clarify, I intended little positive in my description of her as a bitch. Can also be applied to Ant.

 

[knoxvol52]

Jason Kidd says "hold my beer" on the comment a older PG can't lead you to a title in basketball...

 

[madtownvol]

Sure, there are exceptions. You could add Chris Paul and Steph Curry to the list (In the sense of still playing at a high enough level to potentially lead a championship team). But in the case of the Vandersloot, we are talking about an older player coming back from an ACL tear. You need a plan B in case she has setbacks or her body just does not fully recover by next season.

In this context, I would suggest that AR's comments about Vandersloot are quite reasonable:

We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before.

 

[madtownvol]

Just to clarify, I intended little positive in my description of her as a bitch. Can also be applied to Ant.

Fair enough.

 

[glv98]

Sure, there are exceptions. You could add Chris Paul and Steph Curry to the list (In the sense of still playing at a high enough level to potentially lead a championship team). But in the case of the Vandersloot, we are talking about an older player coming back from an ACL tear.

In this context, I would suggest that AR's comments about Vandersloot are quite reasonable:

Of course, but you don’t call them out by name in public. If you do, you get the locker room you deserve.

AR couldn’t break out of this kind of crappy cycle if she wanted to. Not only does it not hurt her brand, it is her brand at this point. We can easily recite the reactions by now: racist, mean generalizations vs Angel as truth telling victim-of-the-system martyr. Truthfully, yawn. The two yr cycle has become predictable and boring.

the internal organization and locker room stuff is more consequential for her though. No question almost any team would want her right now. But if this pattern of never being able to settle into a locker room persists, AR may want to remember her very talented ex teammate Chennedy Carter.

 

[madtownvol]

Of course, but you don’t call them out by name in public. If you do, you get the locker room you deserve.

AR couldn’t break out of this kind of crappy cycle if she wanted to. Not only does it not hurt her brand, it is her brand at this point. We can easily recite the reactions by now: racist, mean generalizations vs Angel as truth telling victim-of-the-system martyr. Truthfully, yawn. The two yr cycle has become predictable and boring.

the internal organization and locker room stuff is more consequential for her though. No question almost any team would want her right now. But if this pattern of never being able to settle into a locker room persists, AR may want to remember her very talented ex teammate Chennedy Carter.

If she was causing dissent on a winning team, I would 100% agree with you. But saying our objectively terrible needs to get better, should not be that inflammatory. My guess is that Fire's locker room is not that great right now anyway. It is a vicious cycle, losing divides locker rooms and divided locker rooms tend to lose. This team needs a strong, veteran voice. If they had a Candace type player, I would bet $ that Angel would have a different demeanor.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Fair enough.

 

[Terrells Bay88]

Jason Kidd says "hold my beer" on the comment a older PG can't lead you to a title in basketball...

Sloot's previous team the NY Liberty didn't believe she could be an effective starter and they benched her.

 

[knoxvol52]

Sloot's previous team the NY Liberty didn't believe she could be an effective starter and they benched her.

Was that the Coaches decision or Breanna Stewart and Ionescu making that decision?

I don't care who it is Women Or Men Sports the decisions should be made by the Coaches and hierarchy, not the players of the team.

Reese may be correct about her assessment of Sloot but it's not her place to say publicly...

 

[glv98]

If she was causing dissent on a winning team, I would 100% agree with you. But saying our objectively terrible needs to get better, should not be that inflammatory. My guess is that Fire's locker room is not that great right now anyway. It is a vicious cycle, losing divides locker rooms and divided locker rooms tend to lose. This team needs a strong, veteran voice. If they had a Candace type player, I would bet $ that Angel would have a different demeanor.

Totally disagree. She did it on a national championship team. This controversy and drama is who she is, at least who her $ brand is. It’s always going to happen eventually.

Was that the Coaches decision or Breanna Stewart and Ionescu making that decision?

I don't care who it is Women Or Men Sports the decisions should be made by the Coaches and hierarchy, not the players of the team.

Reese may be correct about her assessment of Sloot but it's not her place to say publicly...

Exactly. Be that honesty broker free speaker but doing so is going to carry its consequences. Players will not appreciate it.

 

[glv98]

Also, both Kamilla and Paige, who were far more used to winning in college than Angel, have managed to bear all the losing without embarrassing teammates. Kamilla hasn’t said boo to the goose and Paige has been quite supportive of her teammates, the organization and her embattled coach. At least in public.

Six years and three different venues later, I think it’s safe to say this is just who Angel is. Especially now that she’s locked into the controversy cycle to support her own mythology.