WNBA analyst backs Angel Reese in Sabrina Ionescu feud: “Women trash talk too”
Rachel DeMita called for equal criteria for judging women and men in basketball.
AWNBA analyst has stepped up to defend Angel Reese amid the heated debate over her on-court trash talk against Sabrina Ionescu, insisting that women’s basketball deserves the same competitive fire as the men’s game.
The Chicago Sky forward, known for her unapologetic attitude and fierce competitiveness, sparked controversy when she was caught on a mic saying, “Sabrina can’t f*cking guard!” during a January 31st game between Phantom BC and Rose BC in the Unrivaled league.
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AWNBA analyst has stepped up to defend Angel Reese amid the heated debate over her on-court trash talk against Sabrina Ionescu, insisting that women’s basketball deserves the same competitive fire as the men’s game.
The Chicago Sky forward, known for her unapologetic attitude and fierce competitiveness, sparked controversy when she was caught on a mic saying, “Sabrina can’t f*cking guard!” during a January 31st game between Phantom BC and Rose BC in the Unrivaled league.
The remark sent social media into a frenzy, with fans debating whether Reese had crossed the line. However, analyst Rachel Annamarie DeMita has dismissed the outrage saying trash talk is a normal part of the game-especially when it happens in real-time.
“It would be different if Angel was just tweeting, ‘Sabrina can’t guard me,’ but this was in the middle of a game,” DeMita argued. “People need to let these women compete the way we allow men to.”
Indeed, NBA legends like Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, and Kevin Durant have built their legacies on intense trash talk, often using it as a weapon to gain a mental edge over opponents. Yet, when Reese-a dominant force in the WNBA-does the same, she faces criticism that male athletes rarely encounter.
But the biggest twist? Ionescu herself wasn’t fazed in the slightest. When asked about Reese’s comments during NBA All-Star weekend, the New York Liberty star brushed off the controversy, responding with pure professionalism.
“Oh, that’s fine. I mean, that’s just basketball. I don’t mind it. It’s part of our sport,” Ionescu said, adding that trash talk is common in every major league, whether it’s the NBA, NFL, or elsewhere
