Rusty Weiss
Soccer star Megan Rapinoe has thrown her full support behind Angel Reese’s controversial stance on WNBA media obligations.
Reese made headlines last month after appearing on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast, where she declared she would rather pay fines than participate in media sessions that make her feel uncomfortable.
“The media has not always been great for me. And I’ll take a fine. I’ll catch a fine, especially in the WNBA. I’ll have a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall,” Reese said.
Under the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players must make themselves available to the media after games, with violations potentially resulting in fines up to $10,000. Reese has already been fined for skipping sessions.
Megan Rapinoe defends Angel Reese's fine-based WNBA media plan: 'Taking her power back' https://t.co/sLvMs2cqmG pic.twitter.com/S7hCywGuRg
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 8, 2026
Rapinoe praised Reese’s approach during an episode of her own podcast A Touch More. Because, of course, she did.
“Angel was set up as a villain before she was even in the WNBA, and now she’s making it clear that she’s gonna protect her peace,” she said. “The media landscape is changing rapidly in women’s sports, and of course, the W, as always, is out front.”
“I think Angel is a really great example of her taking her power back,” she opined.
“Angel isn’t saying that she’s never gonna do media, but she is saying that she won’t just stand up and take anything that’s thrown at her.”
Megan Rapinoe Backs Angel Reese Media Fines Stance
The former USWNT star framed Reese’s decision as a broader message for athletes, especially women, about not being forced to engage with narratives they find unfair or hostile. Which is silly.
This approach risks turning professional athletes into fragile figures who only engage when the environment feels perfectly safe. Critics argue that dodging tough questions after poor performances only fuels the very narratives players claim to resent.
If that were the case, female athletes, particularly WNBA players, could simply avoid the media if a reporter asks them a question they don’t like. Or a question following a losing effort.
Incidentally, Reese framed herself as the villain. She actually embraced that role. In many ways, that role was also beneficial to her career.
You’re a professional. And sometimes negative narratives crop up throughout a long season. For example, Reese has had to contend with reporters wondering why her game appears to have crumbled in the pre-season with her new Dream teammates. Shooting percentage has been abysmal, even by her standards.
But according to Rapinoe, she should just “take her power back” by avoiding questions.
