The WNBA season has barely begun, and the excitement is already building. During an intense and heated Game 1, former Iowa Hawkeyes player Kate Martin sent a powerful message to Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, both literally and figuratively, when she forcefully blocked Reese’s layup attempt, a moment that has since gone viral.
Reese never shied away from confrontation and was visibly frustrated by the blocking and insults that followed. After the match, she didn’t hesitate to call Martin’s actions “disrespectful” and “boundary crossing.”
“This is a pro thing, not a college thing,” Reese said. “I understand competition, I understand rivalries, but the way she came at me was downright disrespectful. The league has to deal with that.”
When asked if she was specifically requesting Martin’s removal from the league, Reese reiterated her request.
“If she plays like that, then yes. We don’t need that energy here. There’s a difference between being competitive and being downright disrespectful,” she added.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin took their talents to Miami, Florida for the inaugural season of the new 3-on-3 Unrivaled league.
Both generated a lot of buzz in their first WNBA seasons and are also making noise in the new league.
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On Monday night, Reese and the Rose Basketball Club lost to Martin and the Laces Basketball Club 71-64, the fourth game for both teams.
With just under a minute left in the first quarter and the Laces leading 13-12, Reese drove to the basket and met Martin in mid-air. As Reese prepared to shoot, Martin fouled her, sending the former LSU Tigers star crashing to the ground. Reese missed but managed to sink her only free throw, which is worth two points in Unrivaled.
WNBA fans shared their thoughts on the Reese-Martin moment on social media.
“OMG, Kate almost threw Barbie back into the bayou,” one fan said.
“There’s no way Angel Reese scores on this shot unless Martin fouls her… completely out of control,” said a second.
“Kate, a quiet revenge that sullies Angel,” wrote a third.
“What a flop,” added another.
“Kate has a history with Angel…” commented a fifth.
Angel Reese (5) de la Rose Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
In the win over Rose, Martin finished with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting and six rebounds. Reese, meanwhile, scored 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting, with seven rebounds and two assists. She also fouled out. Kayla McBride made the game-winning shot for Laces.
Reese and Martin will reunite again in Unrivaled on Saturday.