The Chicago Sky have mismanaged, undervalued and fumbled the Angel Reese situation | Chicago Sky
WChicago’s sky has selected Angel Reese, one of the most famous college players for years, with the overall choice last year, many thought that it could be a turning point for the franchise. Yes, the Sky had won the WNBA final in 2021, but they were a losing team for most of their history and Reese, in addition to its celebrity, would bring an explosive athletics and a superb rebound in the franchise. As a player, these high hopes took place: she is already twice all-star and led the League in rebounds in her two seasons of the WNBA.
As a teammate, things are not so smooth. The sky missed the playoffs last season. This time, they finished with the new joint record of the whole WNBA, alongside the Dallas wings.
Reese, it is right to say, did not hesitate to show his feelings. After saying that the sky “had to get good players … must have great players” and imply that she would look for a job if that did not happen, Reese apologized. “I really didn’t want to deposit my teammates intentionally,” she said. The sky quickly suspended it for half a game for “declarations harmful to the team”.
As a former NBA player myself, I can testify that criticizing your teammates – at least in public – is a non -no. But are a suspension and a declaration to the media as it should have been managed? It seemed that heaven was trying to embarrass Reese. It has been the target of abuse on social networks since it entered the league, partly because of its so-called rivalry with Caitlin Clark (a rivalry that the two women play). By repressing it, the sky paved the way for its online criticisms to feast on itself and slander Reese.
The punishment seemed mean and quickly turned. Sky fans flooded social media in Reese, and during the last home game in Chicago, panels appeared in the crowd while reading “Free Angel Reese”, while others called the dismissal of the Director General Jeff Pagliocca.
The suspension did not seem only heavy, it was out of step with the rest of the league. Other WNBA stars have expressed frustrations with their teams without being punished. Pagliocca himself echoes the feeling of Reese as for the need for better construction of the alignment – which for which it was suspended. The message was undoubtedly: when Reese said, it is an insubordination; When the director general says it, it is a plan. This message is even worse if we consider how frequency of black women like Reese are attacked to express their mind.
The irony is that the conflict of Reese with the front office is only the last chapter of a much longer and shambolic story for the sky. This is a franchise with a story to run talents. WNBA journalist, Trysta Krick, recently told me about my podcast, The collision, on the problems of the sky. Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Don, Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot – all left Chicago Frustrated (the latter returned this season to note that things are not better than when she left). Marina Mabrey spoke of racial tensions. Candace Parker, from Chicago who helped Sky as WNBA in 2021, chose to leave. On many occasions, the sky has wasted the chance to build a sustainable championship list.
“There are so many players who could be on the team right now, but have chosen to leave the sky of Chicago because of their problems with the organization,” Krick told me. “Could you imagine a Chicago team with Kahleah Copper, Angel Reese, Marina Mabrey, Kamilla Cardoso? This is a list of championship caliber. But they have a talented story.”
The dismissal coach Teresa Weatherspoon only aggravated the questions. Reese said that the decision had left her “broken heart” and added that Weathrspoon was the only person who “really believed in me” as a black woman in sport. It is difficult to imagine a dull movement if the goal is to keep your franchise player happy.
It might be more pleasant to taste if the sky was arguing of titles. But the last two seasons have been, without sure, abyssal. In 2024, they won 13 of their 30 regular season games. In 2025, they won 10, finishing the Lastal-Lourdi despite two recruits from 2024 All-Star, Reese and Center Kamilla Cardoso. In addition, this year’s recruits – the leader Hailey Van Lith and striker Maddy Westbeld – have experienced difficult seasons, despite exceptional talents.
Even the project has become a symbol of mismanagement. This year, Chicago transmitted Sonia Citron, who turned into a recruited star elsewhere, rather exchanging her rights – as well as a future first round – for Ariel Atkins, a veteran likely to go to the free agency. The Sky mortgaged their future for nothing, while their young stars fought in another losing season.
It is not surprising that fans already debate where Reese could play next year. Combine to the Paige Bueckers of Wings or even Clark with Indiana fever – a decision that would send the Internet in the merger – are fantastic scenarios, but the point is simple: Reese has options. She is a proven star, still only at the start of her career, and she deserves an organization that treats her with the respect she won.
If Reese decides that she was tired of Chicago’s sky, no one should be surprised. The blame will not fall on it. It will be downright on an organization that seems determined to keep its best players away.
