When a reporter praises an athlete’s wins and documents their losses, the line between evaluation and personal attack can blur, especially when the athlete responds by cutting off access. That’s exactly what has happened to WNBA reporter Dan Zaksheske, who has found himself at the center of that debate after discovering that Angel Reese has taken action on social media.
“I found out while covering the WNBA Finals that Angel Reese blocked me on here,” he wrote on X.
Advertisement
“I’ve never tagged her or tweeted at her. I’ve asked her questions, reported on the things she says and does, and written about how she played. That’s my job. I praised Reese after Games 2 and 3. She earned it. Then she hit Golden State with the ‘too small’ gesture and taunted them by waving as they left the court. Over the next 4 games she had 19 turnovers, 12 made FG. I wrote about that, too. Guess which part got me called racist.”
A quick look at Zaksheske’s coverage with OutKick, where he works as a reporter, shows that his criticism of Reese predates the finals. In June 2024, he questioned her relationship with Caitlin Clark, suggesting that Reese was willing to take shots at her rival instead of trying to reciprocate Clark’s public praise.
He later also criticized the Chicago Sky after the team limited media availability involving Reese. Then, in April 2026, when Chicago traded Reese to the Atlanta Dream, Zaksheske questioned why the Sky would move a player widely regarded as a franchise star and publicly challenged the perception of Reese as an elite player. Despite his critical approach, he hasn’t exclusively covered her negatively.
Advertisement
In June 2025, he acknowledged her strong performance against the Los Angeles Sparks, when she logged 24 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists. In another article, he openly admitted that he had been hard on her in the past.
“I’ll be the first to admit that I’m probably considered among those who are “Angel Reese haters,” he wrote. “Although, I don’t consider myself a ‘hater.'”
“That being said, I’ve been hard on Reese in the past, entirely because of her poor performances (and often poor attitude)… I feel a duty to point it out when Reese does well.”
In the same article, however, he also included a criticism of Reese’s so-called ‘mebounds,’ a term for when she grabs her own misses off the glass, along with her attitude, showcasing how his coverage continues to be shaped by his broader reservations about her.
Advertisement
That pattern continued over the 2026 WNBA Finals. Zaksheske praised Reese for her strong play in Games 2 and 3, noting her impact in helping the Dream take the series lead. But when Atlanta’s momentum disappeared, his coverage shifted toward her struggles.
Reese, for reference, struggled hard over the final four games of the Finals. Over that period, she averaged just 9.5 points on 26.7% shooting from the field, logging more turnovers (19) than field goals (12). She still finished the series averaging 14.7 points and 12.9 boards, setting a WNBA Finals record with 90 total rebounds. However, her offensive collapse became the story of the series, which the Golden State Valkyries won 4-3.
For now, Reese has not publicly clarified why she blocked Zaksheske. Ultimately, the block has brought an extended tension between Reese and the media who cover her into focus. The episode itself raises a bigger question: when does scrutiny of an athlete become coverage that gets personal, and who draws the line?
Trending Articles
Advertisement
The post “Never Tagged Or Tweeted at Her”: WNBA Reporter Responds to Angel Reese’s Unexpected Social Media Activity Involving Him appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
