Angel Reese Admits the Painful Truth About Her Mental Health After Abuse from Fans – But There’s a Twist

Angel Reese may be known for her toughness on the court, but in a recent interview that sent shockwaves across social media, the Chicago Sky rookie opened up about something much more fragile: her mental health.

Following a recent game, Reese sat down for a post-practice conversation that quickly turned from strategy to survival. “People think I’m strong all the time. That I can handle everything. But I’m human too,” she said. “Lately, it’s been getting to me more than I thought.”

Reese admitted that the barrage of hate speech and negative commentary—both online and during games—has taken a toll on her emotionally. “There are days I don’t want to check my phone. Days where I don’t want to leave the house. It’s exhausting pretending like I’m okay all the time.”

Her honesty caught many fans by surprise. The same Angel Reese who famously taunted Caitlin Clark with the “you can’t see me” gesture during March Madness is now revealing the weight she carries behind the scenes. “That version of me is real, too,” she said. “But there’s also a side of me that cries, that doubts, that struggles.”

But here’s the twist: despite the mental health strain, Reese has found unexpected clarity—and a sense of purpose.

“I know now that my story isn’t just mine. If I’m going through this, other girls are too. And maybe if I speak up, they’ll know they’re not alone,” she said.

In an emotional moment, Reese shared that she’s begun working with a therapist provided through the team and has also leaned heavily on her family and former LSU coach Kim Mulkey. “Coach Mulkey still checks in. My mom calls me every night. My support system is tight, and I’m grateful.”

The WNBA has also started to take steps, with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert releasing a statement condemning fan abuse and affirming the league’s commitment to player well-being.

“Angel Reese’s experience is not isolated,” Engelbert stated. “We are actively working with teams and venues to ensure safer environments for all players. Hate speech has no place in our sport.”

Meanwhile, fans are rallying around Reese like never before. Videos of fans chanting her name at away games have gone viral, and celebrities like Taraji P. Henson and Gabrielle Union have expressed their support on Instagram. Reese says the outpouring of love has helped her begin to reclaim her confidence.

“This isn’t the end of me. It’s the beginning of something bigger,” she said. “I want to use my platform to change how we talk about mental health in sports—especially for Black women.”

As Reese finds strength through transparency, she’s reminding the sports world that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s power.