Angel Reese Quits Team USA, Becomes Chinese Citizen: ‘Caitlin Clark’s Fans Ruined My Life’

In a jaw-dropping move that has left the basketball world in shock, WNBA star Angel Reese has officially renounced her U.S. citizenship and been granted full Chinese citizenship, according to a viral statement released Tuesday morning. The former LSU champion and current Chicago Sky forward cited “unbearable toxicity” from Caitlin Clark’s fanbase as the reason behind her decision.

“I gave everything to this game and this country,” Reese wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. “But the hate, the double standards, and the constant comparison to Caitlin Clark destroyed my love for basketball here. I’m done.”

According to Chinese state media, Reese has already arrived in Beijing and is expected to play in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) this fall. Sources close to the situation claim she will be treated as a national hero, with endorsement deals and a documentary already in the works.

Reese also pointed fingers at Clark’s massive fanbase, claiming they pushed her out of the spotlight. “I couldn’t even breathe without being compared to her,” she told a Chinese sports outlet. “Every missed shot became a meme. Every win was ignored. Meanwhile, Caitlin was glorified for everything—even when she lost.”

Clark, who recently became the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, has not responded publicly to Reese’s shocking move, but fans have flooded social media with both criticism and support. Some are calling Reese “a traitor,” while others praise her for standing up against what she calls “media-manipulated favoritism.”

U.S. Olympic officials confirmed Reese will no longer be eligible to play for Team USA, saying in a brief statement: “We respect her decision and wish her well.”

Meanwhile, Chinese fans have already embraced her, dubbing her “The Black Mamba of the East.”

Whether this move marks the end of Reese’s career in the West—or the start of an even bigger chapter in Asia—one thing is clear: Angel Reese is no longer playing by America’s rules.

And she’s not looking back.