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When Chicago's WNBA franchise selected Angel Reese using the No 7 overall pick last year, there was widespread hope she could transform the franchise. Although claiming the WNBA title in recent years, the Sky have been struggling competitively for many seasons. Reese brought not only mainstream fame but also dynamic play and dominance on the boards.

On-Court Success vs. Team Struggles

As a player, Reese has exceeded the hype: she is a back-to-back All-Star and has led the league in rebounding in each of her first two WNBA seasons.

However within the team environment, things aren’t so smooth. Chicago were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last season. Currently, they finished with the lowest record in the entire WNBA, alongside the Dallas Wings.

Vocal Frustration and Organizational Reaction

The young star was openly vocal about showing her frustrations. She stated the team “need to get better players … must get great players” and implying she’d request a move if that didn’t happen, she issued an apology. “I really didn’t intentionally mean to disrespect my teammates,” she said.

Team management duly suspended her for one half for “statements harmful to the team.”

Questionable Punishment

As someone with pro experience, publicly criticizing fellow players is widely considered a breach of etiquette. However, was a suspension and a public statement the right approach? Many felt as though the organization were trying to embarrass their star.

Reese has been the target of online abuse ever since entering the league, in part to her high-profile competition with a fellow standout (a dynamic both athletes publicly minimized). By reprimanding her, the Sky opened the way for detractors to feast and slander Reese.

The punishment looked petty, and quickly backfired. Supporters flooded social media with support for Reese. At Chicago’s final home game, banners were visible in the stands saying “Support Angel”, while others demanded the dismissal of general manager Jeff Pagliocca.

Inconsistent Messaging

This penalty didn’t just seem disproportionate, it was inconsistent with the rest of the league. Other WNBA stars have voiced concerns with their organizations without facing punishment.

Pagliocca himself later echoed her comments about the need for better team building – the exact issue that led to her penalty. The message was unmistakable: when the player says it, it’s insubordination; when the general manager says it, it’s a strategy.

This dynamic is particularly troubling when you consider how frequently African American athletes like Reese are attacked for expressing themselves.

A Pattern of Problems

The irony is that Reese’s clash with the management is only the most recent example in a much longer dysfunctional history for the franchise.

This is a organization with a history of running off star players. Sylvia Fowles, a former MVP, a hometown hero – each left Chicago frustrated. A recent addition came back this year only to find things had not improved.

One insider commented, “There are so many players that could be on the team right now but chose to depart the Chicago Sky due to ongoing problems with the management.”

“Could you imagine a Chicago team with top talents? It would be a title-contending lineup. But they have a history of wasting their assets.”

Coaching Change

Dismissing head coach their recent coach only compounded matters. The athlete said the decision left her “devastated” and stated that Weatherspoon was the sole individual who “had genuine faith in me” as a Black woman in professional basketball.

It is difficult to imagine a more insensitive move if the goal is to keep your biggest star content.

On-Court Struggles

Perhaps this would be more palatable if the team were competing for titles. But the recent campaigns have been, bluntly, dismal.

In 2024 they won a respectable number of their regular-season games. In 2025, they won far fewer, finishing joint-last despite having two 2024 All-Star rookies. This year’s draft picks – each exceptional talents – have had difficult seasons.

Front Office Missteps

Even the draft has become a example of mismanagement. Recently, Chicago did not pick a rookie who blossomed into an All-Star on another team, instead dealing the pick – along with a valuable asset – for a experienced player expected to leave in free agency.

The Sky mortgaged their future for little return, while their emerging talents labored through another unsuccessful season.

What Comes Next

No surprise that fans are already debating where the star might play next year. Teaming her with elite talents on other teams are fantasy scenarios, but the reality is simple: she has options.

She is a proven star, still only at the beginning of her professional journey, and she merits an organization that values her with the consideration she has rightfully gained.

When the athlete decides she’s had enough of the Chicago Sky, few should be taken aback. The blame will not fall on her. It will be squarely on an franchise that seems intent on pushing its best players away.