Angel Reese ejection: Technical fouls were due to 'disrespectfully addressing,' waving off officials

After the Chicago Sky’s loss to the New York Liberty Tuesday night, the big question was about Angel Reese’s ejection from the game. The rookie forward received a double-technical foul with 2:31 to play in the game, and even Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon was wondering what happened.

The lead official shared the explanation afterward while speaking with the Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe.

Maj Forsberg said Reese received her first tech for “disrespectfully addressing” the referee, and the second technical came for waving them off. The former LSU star had four fouls at the time of the play as the Sky went on to lose to the Liberty 88-75 at Wintrust Arena.

Forsberg did not make the call, though. As the lead official, she was the one who spoke with Poe – the pool reporter. Charles Watson was the official who called the technical fouls on Reese.

Angel Reese has been tossed from the game.

Looking at the replay, it looks like she waved off the referee after she was called for a foul which led to the ejection. pic.twitter.com/l5b6xMEk3j

— Karli Bell (@KarliBell33) June 5, 2024

Reese finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the game and recorded her first career block. Ultimately, though, the Sky suffered their fifth loss of the season and will bring a 3-5 record into Thursday’s matchup against the Washington Mystics.

As the dust settled, Weatherspoon tried to learn more about what led to Reese’s ejection – the first of her young career – but didn’t find out anything else.

“I tried to get an explanation and I did not,” Weatherspoon said, via Poe. “I don’t know at this moment what has happened.”

Lonzo Ball to Angel Reese: ‘Keep Ya Money’

Reese is expected to receive a $200 fine for each technical foul, Poe said, making it $400 total. However, she has one high-profile athlete in her corner. Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, who was sitting courtside for Tuesday’s game, offered to pay it and told her to “keep ya money.”

Angel Reese is off to a fast start to her WNBA career after going to Chicago as the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. After Tuesday’s game, she’s averaging 10.6 points and 8.9 rebounds to go with 1.9 assists and 1.3 assists. Rebounding has been her biggest area, though, and she set a Sky rookie record in the last game against the Indiana Fever with eight offensive boards.

That game also brought in an impressive viewing audience, averaging over 1.5 million viewers. It’s yet another big showing for the WNBA, which has seen a ratings increase this season as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the rest of a highly anticipated rookie class arrived in the league.