Fact Check: Did Angel Reese get axed by Chicago Sky due to steroid use?
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: The internet can be an amazing space, but let’s be honest: it’s also a hotbed for outrageous rumors and outright fake news. A prime example is the recent bizarre claim that Chicago Sky star Angel Reese was kicked off the team for steroid abuse.
Fortunately, websites like Snopes, which prides itself on "fact-checking and original investigative reporting," are here to clarify the truth. When it came to the strange rumor about Reese, Snopes' Jack Izzo swiftly debunked it in an article published on October 18.
The baseless rumors surrounding Angel Reese's departure from Chicago Sky
So, what was the rumor, exactly? Earlier this month, videos began circulating on social media, alleging that the Chicago Sky had removed Reese from the team for using performance-enhancing drugs.
However, there was one major flaw in that claim: there was absolutely no evidence to support it. Izzo made it clear in his article, stating, “The assertion was unfounded.”
It all started around October 14, when these videos began circulating on platforms like Facebook and YouTube. The clips had all the sensationalized headlines you'd expect, such as “Angel Reese Finally Got What She Deserved – A Pink Slip For Steroid Use” and “Shocking News: Angel Reese Fired From WNBA for Juicing.”
One YouTube channel BasketBuzz even went as far as saying, “Angel Reese finally got what she deserved — a termination letter from the Chicago Sky with her name on it, all wrapped up with a nice bow of: ‘you’re fired.’ You might ask the reason for the firing. Well, she got caught juicing up with steroids, and honestly, no one’s really shocked. From the start of the season, she’s been serving us more drama than basketball games.”
The video racked up over 150,000 views in just a few days. The only problem was that it was complete fiction.
Izzo pointed out that if there was even a hint of truth to these claims, major sports media outlets like ESPN or The Athletic would have been all over it — interviewing people involved and diving deep into the story. But guess what? That never happened.
In reality, Angel Reese has never tested positive for any banned substances, nor has she faced any disciplinary action from the WNBA. She has successfully passed all her drug tests during her rookie season and maintains a clean record.
The only reason she’s been off the court recently is due to a wrist injury she sustained in September. After a successful surgery in the offseason, she’s expected to be back in action for the 2025 season. Basically, the Chicago Sky never fired her and she’s still very much a part of the team.
Exploring the origins of the rumor surrounding Angel Reese
The rumor appears to have surfaced out of nowhere, but there's likely more to the story. Much of it probably stems from Angel Reese's reputation as a perceived “villain” in contrast to fellow rookie Caitlin Clark.
The media frenzy surrounding these two during their college years positioned them as rivals, leading some fans to choose sides. When one is portrayed as the hero, the other frequently ends up taking on the villain role.
The fake videos about Reese’s supposed firing probably hit a nerve with those who already saw her in that light. It’s easy to see how people might click on a video that seemed to confirm their biases.
If you take a look at one of these clips, you’ll notice a disclaimer hidden at the bottom stating, “This video shares opinions and information from various sources and does not assert absolute truth.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time social media has gone wild with a false story about Reese. Earlier this year, there was another baseless claim floating around that she lost $50 million in endorsements due to her on-court behavior. Spoiler alert: that wasn’t true either.
