Additional Coverage:
- Angel Reese vows to ‘never stay silent’ after boos and singing Black national anthem (themirror.com)
Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese spoke out about the powerful moment of singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before their recent game against the Indiana Fever, emphasizing her commitment to using her voice despite facing boos from opposing fans.
Following Atlanta’s 113-96 win over Indiana on Saturday, Reese reflected on the pregame ceremony held the night before Juneteenth in Indianapolis. Video shared widely showed Reese joining in the singing of the hymn often called the Black national anthem. The moment held deep personal significance for Reese, especially after hearing negative reactions from some in the crowd.
Reese, who has openly discussed the criticism she’s endured throughout her career, described how the boos contrasted with the pride she felt singing the anthem. “It was just one of those moments where I was really feeling everything I’ve been through these last few years,” she said. “Hearing those boos in the arena and then singing ‘Lift Every Voice’ made me think about all the people who paved the way for me.”
She stressed the importance of representation and inspiring the next generation. “When young girls and boys see a Black woman running up and down the court, living this life, it matters. I want to use my platform to speak up and never stay silent about what I believe in.”
“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” penned as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and later set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson, has become a significant anthem in Black history and is frequently featured in WNBA Juneteenth celebrations.
Reese’s comments came amid a strong week on the court for the Dream, who defeated Indiana twice in three days. Alongside the victories, Reese hit a remarkable career milestone, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 rebounds-achieving the feat in just 79 games, breaking the previous record.
In Saturday’s game, Reese contributed 18 points and eight rebounds, following her 21 points and 11 rebounds performance on Thursday. Across both games, she tallied 39 points and 19 rebounds, helping Atlanta improve to an 11-4 record this season.