With rising fame comes increased scrutiny, and Angel Reese is no exception. As her star continues to rise, so does the criticism—some of it centered around claims that she’s not putting in enough work during the off-season.
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Recently, sports content creator Mariah Rose stepped in to defend Reese during a debate with one of her critics. The critic claimed that Reese isn’t “in the gym enough,” basing his argument solely on what he sees—or doesn’t see—on her social media.
Rose quickly pushed back. “If you were following her and you were paying attention,” she said, “you would know that she was working in the offseason on those aspects of her game that people were criticizing.”
The critic then attempted to support his argument by saying he sees Reese more often at New York Liberty playoff games than working out, citing a personal sighting.
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But Rose wasn’t buying it. She let it be known that seeing someone at a basketball game doesn’t prove they’re not putting in work. It’s not actually a valid measure of Reese’s dedication.
The critic doubled down, saying, “I see her out more in the public eye for nothing that has to do with basketball,” and argued that she should post more about her workouts to prove she’s committed.
Rose shut that notion down. “Just because you feel like she needs to be showing you she needs to be in the gym a lot more, does not mean she’s not in the gym. She’s a professional basketball player,” she said pointedly.
@houseofhighlights 1 Angel Reese Fan debates 10 Haters. Who won this debate? 🏀🍿 @CLASH @mariah rose #angelreese #wnba #womensbasketball #basketball ♬ original sound – House of Highlights
The conversation wrapped with someone pointing out the obvious: the critic is not going to get surveillance footage of her workouts. This highlights the lack of real evidence behind the accusation.
At the end of the day, Angel Reese, like many athletes, balances her basketball career with brand partnerships and public appearances. That doesn’t mean she’s not putting in the work—it just means she’s also managing her growing platform.
