Claim: Rumors were swirling on the internet that the WNBA has slapped a steroid ban on Sky rookie Angel Reese. Videos on YouTube and some posts on Facebook claimed the league caught her and barred her with a lifetime suspension.
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The sensational claims have taken on a life of their own, and fans are pondering whether there is any truth in them. In early September, the center had one of her best games of the season, against the Los Angeles Sparks. She finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists in a 92-78 win for the Sky. However, she missed the team’s last six games, prompting allegations that she sat out because of the ban.
Verdict: All of these claims are False. Reese was never caught using steroids by the WNBA, nor has she been suspended.
Source of the Rumor: It seems the report about her expulsion from the WNBA first appeared in a post by a YT channel ‘Basket Hoops’. One look at the channel’s description sheds light on the reason why they propagated such a rumor. “We’re huge fans of Caitlin Clark, but there’s so much more to explore,” reads the second sentence of the description.
Fans or not, the Clark vs Reese rivalry, which could provide healthy competition on court, will only take a nasty turn if such unfounded rumors are promoted.
Following the initial post, the rumor gathered steam and others picked it up as well, without ascertaining the veracity of the claim. Were the posts that convincing that a small portion of fans on social media believed them blindly? That said, it is also easy to gather why some would believe a negative story about Reese, regardless of whether the source is legitimate or not.
Wrist surgery forced Reese to sit out
It was the wrist injury she sustained following the game against the Sparks that forced her to sit out the remainder of the season. The 22-year-old underwent a surgery for the fracture she suffered after a fall.
It stopped her from capping off her incredible rookie season with a strong finish which could have potentially swayed some votes in her favor in the race for the Rookie of the Year award. Her long-time rival, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, won the prize.
The center has been a divisive figure on and off the court. While some laud her for being outspoken, others have accused her of being arrogant. Personal feelings aside, it’s hard to deny her quality as a player. She averaged 13.6 points, a league-record 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals as a rookie.
And since she hasn’t been “suspended for life,” as some fan pages on social media have incorrectly claimed, we can expect her to bounce back from her wrist injury and have a massive year in her sophomore season.
