Angel Reese Addresses Singing at Indiana Fever Game

Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese sang the Black National Anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ at Caitlin Clark’s home court with the Indiana Fever. This event took place ahead of Juneteenth. Reese mentioned the experience after defeating the Fever again, highlighting the boos she received from the Fever fans earlier.

When reporters discussed the singing with Reese, she expressed its personal significance. She described feeling connected to her ancestry through the anthem. ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ became important to her experience, emphasizing her journey and resilience as a Black woman.

Reese further addressed the importance of her role in representing Black culture in Atlanta. She highlighted the powerful impact her presence might have on young Black children within sports arenas, underlining the significance of representation and her refusal to stay silent on matters she believes in.

The song, often called the Black National Anthem, was created by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, with music by John Rosamond Johnson. It was first performed by schoolchildren in Florida. It’s a part of WNBA’s Juneteenth programming, with ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ played in arenas, aligned with social justice initiatives.

Reese had previously shared concerns about ‘racism’ from fans of Clark during a podcast episode. She mentioned instances of rude behavior and disrespectful incidents involving her fans. Despite a WNBA investigation finding no evidence, Reese noted her team’s support throughout the allegations.

Throughout the week, Reese and Clark played two games that attracted significant attention. Atlanta triumphed over Indiana 108-101 on Thursday. Reese scored 21 points along with 11 rebounds, while Clark tallied 26 points. The Dream secured another victory with a 113-96 win on Saturday. This victory marked Reese becoming the fastest WNBA player to reach 1,000 rebounds.

Reese joined the Atlanta Dream after a trade from Chicago Sky, contributing significantly to the team’s successful season. Her history with Clark dates back to their college days, notably during the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship game, which saw LSU defeat Iowa.