The WNBA Finals have been a showcase for Angel Reese's brilliance, but not everyone in Atlanta is cheering for the home team. Phil Kent, a panelist on FOX 5 Atlanta's political talk show The Georgia Gang, sparked outrage this week with a gratuitous dig at the Dream's superstar.
During a discussion about the Finals, where Atlanta currently holds a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Valkyries, Kent couldn't resist taking a swipe. As his co-hosts pivoted to praise Reese's monster performance—21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3—Kent muttered, "Go Sophie Cunningham, not Angel Reese." The comment hung in the air before the panel moved on, but the damage was done.
Reese has been nothing short of spectacular in her first WNBA Finals appearance. She's posted three straight double-doubles, averaging 19.4 points per game in the postseason while shooting a blistering 48.1% from the field. Her dominance has been a key reason the Dream are on the cusp of a championship, yet Kent chose to root for the opposition instead of celebrating a local hero.
Social media was quick to call out the anchor. "Phil Kent has an allegiance to losers please go to the Indiana Gang," one fan wrote. Another chimed in, "And yall wonder why we ride so hard for Angel Reese these white men are so broken its never been about basketball smh." A third user summed up the absurdity: "You live in Georgia, you're on a Georgia broadcast, your Georgia team is in wnba finals, and you say 'go Sophie Cunningham' not Angel Reese Is WILD."
The backlash isn't just about one comment—it reflects a broader pattern of scrutiny Reese faces. "This is why I say she gets an unfathomable amount of hate," one reply noted. "It's almost the default topic for any casual WNBA convo… talk bad about Angel Reese. It's insane."
Reese has shrugged off the noise before, and this latest jab is unlikely to rattle her. Her focus remains on finding any little edge in Game 4, where she can help close out the series. The Dream's bench has also fed off her intensity, with a fiery sideline tirade setting the tone in their Game 3 win.
Meanwhile, the WNBA media has faced criticism for overlooking Reese's Finals brilliance in favor of narratives that don't match her production. Even the crowd at the Finals has roasted her detractors, chanting support for the Dream star as she continues to deliver.
Kent's comment may have been meant as a throwaway line, but it landed with the weight of a sledgehammer. For fans, it's yet another example of the double standard Reese endures—judged not for her game, but for who she is. As she leads Atlanta toward a potential title, the only response that matters is the one she delivers on the court.
The Dream are one win away from glory, and Reese is the engine driving them there. Whether or not Phil Kent jumps on the bandwagon, the rest of Atlanta is firmly behind their superstar.
