“9 seconds that rocked the internet: Angel Reese’s workout video sparks heated debate about her fitness, her coaching, and what’s next.”

She was rumored to be ready for the league, but one video left fans wondering: Who’s really helping Angel get there?
The video was only nine seconds long. But what it revealed sent shockwaves through WNBA circles and raised serious questions about what’s next for the rising star.

CHICAGO —
It was a simple workout clip.

Nine seconds.
A crisp, well-edited glimpse of a star getting her photo taken before her rookie season in the WNBA.
But what fans got was a spark, a viral flashpoint that ignited discussions far beyond the gym.

When Angel Reese, NCAA breakout star and new face of the Chicago Sky, posted this short workout video on April 22, she probably didn’t expect it to be dissected frame by frame by coaches, fans, and sports figures. Yet, that’s exactly what happened.

Why?

Because in just nine seconds, everything from her shooting mechanics to her coaching support to her WNBA preparation was criticized.

And it was veteran analyst Adrien Ross who led the charge, whose breakdown of the clip lit up social media feeds across the country.

The clip that changed the conversation

The film opens with a familiar scene: a gym, a rebounder, and Angel Reese catching a perimeter pass.

She makes a move. She stands up. She lets go.

“It’s hard,” says the man behind the camera.

This word, meant to be an encouragement, quickly became the target of backlash.

For while Adrien Ross paused, rewound, and zoomed in on her breakdown, what she was lifting wasn’t “hard” at all. It was, in her words, “a fundamental breakdown in form”—and no one around Reese seemed interested in correcting her.

“Who’s coaching her?”—Ross doesn’t hold back.

Ross didn’t attack Angel Reese as an athlete. On the contrary, she repeatedly praised her effort, her work ethic, and her potential. But her critique was brutal and hard-hitting.

“Her guide hand is completely in her face. The elbow is flared. The lift is low. It’s not WNBA technique,” ​​Ross said.
“And who’s coaching her?” He nods his head like it’s perfect.”

From there, the analysis only got more refined.

Using freeze frames, Ross compared Reese’s shooting motion from the beginning to the end of the video, suggesting that his mechanics not only broke down due to fatigue, but weren’t corrected in real time.

“Maybe he’s not a Sky coach. Let’s hope not,” Ross said bluntly.
“Because if that’s what they’re signing, we have a problem.”

Fans React: “Don’t Post What You Can’t Defend”

The response was swift and divided.

Some fans defended Angel, saying that form didn’t matter if the shot went in, especially during casual practices.

But others, including former players, sided with Ross.

“You don’t post this if you don’t think it’s a good picture,” tweeted one coach.
“And if this is your ‘good’ one, you have plenty of bad pictures.”

Others pointed out the symbolism: Angel Reese, the outspoken, unfiltered star, was being praised during a practice where the fundamentals were missing. For them, the video represented something larger: the danger of hype without accountability.

Where was the team?

Perhaps the most troubling question wasn’t Angel’s form, but rather who was watching.

If this practice took place under the official supervision of the Chicago Sky, fans wondered: Why wasn’t anyone correcting her movements?

And if it wasn’t approved by the team, why post it?

“She’s too young and too talented to be left to fend for herself,” added Ross.
“And if she’s working with someone who doesn’t recognize crossed wrists or a loose lead hand, that’s a failure in her circle.”

Others have speculated that the training was informal: just a few rehearsals before camp, perhaps with a friend or a local coach. If true, it would explain the lack of technical correction.

But in the age of viral clips, once it’s online, it’s official.

And for Angel Reese, every second is under the microscope.