Sky rookie Reese tossed after spat with official

Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese was ejected after drawing two technical fouls for disagreeing with an official in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s 88-75 loss to the visiting New York Liberty.

Reese was called for her fifth personal foul with 2:31 left and then called for two technical fouls by the same official, Charles Watson. Reese appeared to say something to Watson and then quickly waved her hand.

“I tried to get an explanation. I did not,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said in the postgame news conference. “I don’t know to this moment what has happened.”

Lead official Maj Forsberg told reporters after the game that Reese’s technical fouls were for “disrespectfully addressing” the official and then for “waving her hand in dismissal.”

Reese, who finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes, did not appear at the news conference. Her Sky teammate Marina Mabrey was on the court when Reese was ejected and was asked about Reese’s exchange with the official.

“She got two techs, she said something to the ref,” Mabrey said. “Whatever he felt like was the correct call is what he made. It’s more about composure for us in our young years in the WNBA. You’ve got to get to know refs and how they respond to things.”

The Chicago Bulls‘ Lonzo Ball, who was in attendance at the game, said on X that he would pay the $400 fine Reese faces from the WNBA for the two technical fouls.

For the first three technical fouls in a season, the WNBA assesses a $200 fine for each. Technicals four to six each get a $400 fine. A seventh technical foul brings an $800 fine plus a one-game suspension. Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and the Phoenix Mercury‘s Natasha Cloud each have three technicals this season.

“Ref that threw out @Reese10Angel is weak btw,” Ball wrote. “You know who you are (Keep ya money Angel I got you).”

Reese replied: “appreciate you gang!”

Tuesday was the first game for the Sky since their 71-70 loss at Indiana on Saturday in which Chicago guard Chennedy Carter was called for a foul when she shoulder-checked Clark from behind and knocked her to the floor. That foul was upgraded to a flagrant 1 on Sunday after a review by the league. In addition, Reese was fined $1,000 and the Sky organization $5,000 after Saturday’s game for violating the league’s media policy, as Reese was not made available to media.

Carter received cheers from the Sky crowd at Wintrust Arena when she entered the game Tuesday. She had a team-high 16 points coming off the bench for Chicago (3-5).

The Sky led the Liberty 66-65 after three quarters but were outscored 23-9 in the fourth by New York (8-2). Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 33 points and 14 rebounds.

“You can’t melt down against them,” Mabrey said of the Sky’s fourth-quarter struggles. “And at the end of the day, we melted down. It’s composure.”