Angel Reese responds to viral rumors she dated Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren last summer. [photo: @angelreese5/IG, @jalenduren/IG]

During the WNBA Olympic break, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren were rumored to be dating. Speculations started when Duren shared on Instagram a scenic location that many alleged was the same place Reese showed on TikTok.

The Chi Barbie added fuel to the fire when she said in her podcast in early September that she only “mess with athletes.”

In the latest episode of “The Unapologetically Angel” Show, the All-Star forward debunked the rumors.

“I can’t go on these dates. Private room? I’ve seen the math,” Reese said (19:50 mark). “Somebody posted on The Shade Room. Five minutes the person walks out and the next five minutes the other walks out and they recorded both and tried to put two and two together. Same background so they’re at the same place. Nah. I’ve been called like that before though. Vacation and like.”

When the rumors between the two were at their peak, The Shade Room (TSR) put together the videos used by Reese and Duren. The Instagram site, which covers gossip and entertainment wrote:

“Okay! It looks like #AngelReese is spending time with #JalenDuren from the #DetroitPistons. People have been speculating about the two for a minute. #Roomies, is it giving Baewatch?”

While the former LSU star did not mention Duren, her point was clear that the speculations were not true.

Angel Reese is determined to keep her dating life private

As a celebrity with millions of followers on Instagram, X and TikTok combined, Angel Reese is always noticed when she goes out. She said that she does not “hyperventilate” when people comment about her dating but she would rather keep that part of her life private.

Here’s what she had to say to Coco Jones, the guest in her podcast, about dating publicly (20:30 mark).

“That’s how I am right now. I don’t want my dating life to be out there. … I keep relationships private now because I’ve been in relationships where I go to the comments and all I see is my name on the comments. Why?” Reese said.

Reese added that she hates social media digging into her dating life. The Chicago Sky All-Star said:

“They feel like they’re entitled to know everything about our business. I can go to a game and just cheer for the team!”

Angel Reese couldn’t care less about rumors. She is determined to keep her dating life private, even planning to date behind restaurants to keep a low profile.