Bad Look: WNBA Changes Media Policy, Chicago Sky To Limit Angel Reese Press Availability

The WNBA seems hellbent on making sure that it doesn't grow too much at a time when the league is seeing unprecedented attention. The WNBA has changed its media policy to allow teams to designate two players who are exempt from shootaround media availability on game days. 

The Chicago Sky have already informed reporters that it plans to exercise that exemption on rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. 

As of now, we don't know whether any other teams in the WNBA plan to utilize this exemption for any other players. 

Reese has made it very clear that she is not a fan of the media, so it comes as little surprise that the Sky will protect her. It's an odd move for the WNBA to prioritize her feelings over the needs of the business, though. 

Love her or hate her, people are interested in Angel Reese and what she has to say. The league might think that it's protecting her by doing this, but it's really doing her a disservice. This is the life if you want to be rich, famous, and a celebrity. 

The WNBA made a change to its media policy which allows teams to keep players exempt from certain availability and the Chicago Sky are using it for Angel Reese.

(Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports)

In addition, this raises a very clear double-standard between men's and women's sports. Can you imagine if an NFL team decided that its star rookie starting quarterback could just skip media availability? 

How would the majority of people react to that? I can tell you that I, personally, would call that player soft. I criticized Rory McIlroy for skipping his media obligations following his U.S. Open meltdown. 

In that vein, Reese should be treated the same way, not differently. Equality means treating everyone the same, right? We shouldn't go easy on Reese because she's a woman. That just sends the message that female athletes aren't as mentally tough as male athletes. 

Maybe that's true, maybe it isn't. That's irrelevant. It's about messaging. The WNBA sent a message with this media policy change: some of our players are soft and can't take the heat, and we need to protect them. 

Fine, but just know that you're part of the problem and I don't want to hear about unequal treatment of female athletes compared to male athletes. If you want to be equal, be equal.