Angel Reese is taken down on hard foul by Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas before Chicago rookie surprisingly thanks the Sun star for ‘sending a message’

Angel Reese took a hard fall from a foul during the Chicago Sky’s 82-86 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Saturday night.

As the rookie went up for a rebound in the third quarter, Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas grabbed Reese by the neck and pulled downward as the LSU product went up for the board.

Reese fell on her back and appeared to slam her head on the hardwood. Her soles were further up than the rest of her body at one point before she grabbed onto her head upon landing.

Thomas was called for a type 2 flagrant foul and ejected from the game.

Rather than play the victim, Reese appreciated Thomas for competing hard and even thanked her for ‘sending a message’ despite the dangers that came with her rough play.

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Angel Reese took a hard fall after getting fouled by Alyssa Thomas on Saturday night

Thomas grabbed the Sky rookie by the neck as she fell on her back and slammed her head

‘It’s not cause I’m a rookie, I’m a player,’ Reese said of the foul. ‘I’m a basketball player. They don’t give a damn if I’m a rookie.’

‘I want them to come at me every day. I want them to come at everybody,’ she added. ‘They’re not supposed to be nice to me or lay down because I’m Angel Reese or cause I’m a rookie.’

‘Thank you, AT, for sending a message to me because I got back up, and I kept going and kept pushing. Me and AT have been cool since we were in Maryland, so I know it’s no hard feelings. I appreciate her for going at me every or today.

Thomas is no stranger to dishing out hard fouls in the WNBA. During the 2022 semifinal series between Chicago and Connecticut, Candace Parker got clipped by a troublesome foul from the Sun veteran.

After snagging a rebound, the future Hall-of-Famer attempted to start the fast break for Chicago. However, before Parker could take a second step, Thomas planted her right knee on the side of Parker’s left.

Postgame, Reese thanked Thomas for ‘sending her a message’ in the spirit of competition

Thomas is no stranger to hard fouls and has a reputation for being a dirty player in the WNBA

Parker briefly stayed on her back before shaking off the contact, avoiding what could have been an LCL injury.

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Reese finished Saturday’s game as one of five Sky players to tally double-digits. Reese and Dana Evans both scored 13 points behind Marina Marbey’s 23.

Meanwhile, Chennedy Carter and Elizabeth Williams clocked in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Chicago entered the game after a convincing win over the New York Liberty on Thursday. The Sky holds a 2-2 record, sitting seventh in the WNBA standings.

Reese and the team will return to action on Tuesday when they host the Seattle Storm in Chicago.