Jason Whitlock has risked sparking a backlash by saying Angel Reese was the main reason last week’s WNBA Draft was a success because ‘she has made it cool to lean into the feminine, sexy side of being an athlete’.

The 21-year-old Reese was drafted by Chicago Sky after outlining her credentials as a future WNBA star during her time playing college basketball for LSU. But after LSU went out of the NCAA tournament in early April, Reese wept at a press conference, saying she has been sexualized and had death threats.

For the Draft in New York, Reese wore a silver dress from the luxury Australian designer Bronx and Banco and told the New York Times about her outfit: ‘I wanted something that was going to pop. I don’t want to just be a great basketball player.

‘I want to leave my impact. I want to be a model. I can cook. I can do hair. I can do nails. I can do it all.’

Her viewpoint from the night was celebrated by Whitlock as he discussed her heading to the WNBA on the latest episode of his ‘Fearless’ YouTube show.

Jason Whitlock has praised Angel Reese for 'leaning into the sexy side of being an athlete'

Jason Whitlock has praised Angel Reese for ‘leaning into the sexy side of being an athlete’

Reese pictured with Caitlin Clark (center) and Cameron Brink at last week's WNBA Draft
Reese pictured with Caitlin Clark (center) and Cameron Brink at last week’s WNBA Draft

Whitlock said of Reese: ‘Last week, the WNBA Draft was a marvelous success where the overwhelming majority of those women presented themselves as women.

‘They were as attractive as tall women could possibly be that are athletic as them.

‘To me, that’s a credit to Angel Reese. She has gone overboard with it but she has made it cool to lean into the feminine, sexy side of being an athlete.’

The 56-year-old also shared the clip on X on Tuesday morning, with the caption: ‘Angel Reese is bringing more to the table than we ever anticipated.

‘She’s gone overboard, but she’s made it cool to lean into the feminine side of being a WNBA athlete, not the feminist side.’

Reese was the seventh pick in the first round while her rival at college level, Caitlin Clark at Iowa, was chosen first by Indiana Fever.

Reese’s LSU lost to Iowa and Clark in the college tournament at the start of April and she said in a press conference after the game: ‘I don’t really get to stand up for myself. I mean, I have great teammates. I have a great support system. I’ve got my hometown. I’ve got my family that stands up for me. I don’t really get to speak out on things because I just ignore. I just try to stand strong.

‘I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times, death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been so many things, and I’ve stood strong every single time.’

Earlier in March, Reese cried at a press conference as she spoke about being 'sexualized'
Earlier in March, Reese cried at a press conference as she spoke about being ‘sexualized’
Reese pictured facing Caitlin Clark at college level - the two now start a new era in the WNBA
Reese pictured facing Caitlin Clark at college level – the two now start a new era in the WNBA

In a separate part of the show, Whitlock praised Clark’s influence on WNBA and compared her to Tiger Woods – all before she has even played her first game in the league.

‘It’s a black sport, and this little white girl is dominating,’ he said. ‘It’s like the underdog or something unexpected, the same reason a lot of us fell in love with Tiger Woods in golf. We hadn’t seen anybody that looked like him dominate golf.

‘We haven’t seen anybody that looks like her dominate basketball to the degree that she was.’

Reese and Chicago Sky have their first WNBA game on May 15 against Dallas Wings, while Clark and Indiana Fever play May 14 against Connecticut Sun.