Melissa Tamez/ Icon SportswireThe WNBA has rescinded the second technical foul that led to Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese's ejection from Tuesday's 88-75 loss to the New York Liberty, a league spokesperson announced Wednesday.
Annie Costabile @AnnieCostabileThe WNBA has rescinded the second technical foul assessed to Angel Reese last night during the Sky's 88-75 loss to the Liberty according to a league spokesperson.
Reese drew a second technical foul in Tuesday's matchup for her response to the first technical, according to WNBA referee Maj Forsberg.
With 2:31 left in the game, Reese was whistled for a personal foul. She uttered something to one of the refs, which led to the initial tech. The 6'3" forward then walks away while waving her hand dismissively toward the official and quickly gets another whistle.
Forsberg, who wasn't the referee to eject Reese, declined to specify what Reese said, only telling reporters she "disrespectfully addresses the calling official." Forsberg added she "waves off the calling official in resentment to the call" before the second tech is issued.
Annie Costabile @AnnieCostabilePool report transcript: <a href="https://t.co/fWtxaQMrYe">https://t.co/fWtxaQMrYe</a> <a href="https://t.co/l1a4dyBbtP">pic.twitter.com/l1a4dyBbtP</a>
Reese and her teammates were left puzzled by the ejection, and they weren't the only ones. Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball volunteered to pay her fine in protest of the decision:
Lonzo Ball @ZO2_Ref that threw out <a href="https://twitter.com/Reese10Angel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reese10Angel</a> is weak btw… You know who you are (Keep ya money Angel I got you)
The scrutiny on WNBA referees has never been higher, but the criticism has largely surrounded how Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark has been officiated. Reese's ejection is an example of how the standard across the league simply isn't good enough and hasn't been for some time.
The Athletic's Ben Pickman last October interviewed people around the W, who cited inexperience the rate of turnover among referees as potential sources behind the problem.
Reese's ejection ultimately didn't mean much because the Sky were going to lose with or without her down double digits with so little time left. But she and her team nonetheless have grounds to be frustrated since her exit stemmed from what was such a seemingly trivial reaction.
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