“Silence doesn’t fix losing.” Angel Reese is not someone who would settle for mediocrity and be quiet about it. The Chicago Sky found that out first-hand when Reese slammed the front office in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. She revealed that she will not “settle for the same s—“ in 2026 while calling for “better players”. And the worst part? Reese more than expressed the will to move away if she does not get her way.

Reese’s priority is to try and work things out in Chicago. She said, “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously, I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.” Reese has laid down the marker of what she expects from the front office, not just on-court but off it as well. And if those standards are not met, she won’t hesitate to move on. The same was pointed out by an analyst, citing previous instances when great players have left the Sky, having grown tired of the mediocrity.

Former ESPN Reporter Greydy Diaz said on the “Sports Are Fun!” podcast, “If you really look at Chicago and its history, ownership, front office, it’s been a disaster for years. You’ve had star players leave over and over. You don’t have the facilities. Now you’re building for 2026. Candace Parker left. Kahleah Copper left. And so many others left. And Angel might leave too, you know.”

Looking at the current state of the team, it’s hard to imagine that just four years ago, the Chicago Sky was WNBA champions. But instead of going back-to-back and establishing a dynasty, that Chicago roster completely fell apart. Kahleah Copper, Courtney Vandersloot, and Allie Quigley all moved on. As did Candace Parker, who came in 2021, won the title, and left after 2022. Reason? She did not see the ‘same desire to win’ from the Sky front office. Ironically, that’s the same drive that could pull Parker’s nemesis, Angel Reese, away from Chicago. 

But what’s the ‘beef’ between Candace Parker and Angel Reese? It began when Parker ranked Reese in the C tier of the WNBA players. Which, of course, Reese didn’t take kindly to. In a veiled response, Reese reposted a quote, “I’d be mad too if a girl who was beautiful, rich, famous, and well-liked among her peers comes in breaks my records, gets promotion/brand deals I couldn’t get, and then has the audacity to steal my vet.” 

While there might be no love lost between the two, both stars have similar underwhelming opinions when it comes to the infrastructure and the roster build of the Sky.

The Chicago Sky are building new facilities, but is it too late to please Angel Reese?

As previously alluded to, the Chicago Sky have failed to keep their top players happy in the past. Kahleah Cooper asked to be traded, saying, “Sometimes, if you’re too loyal, you can get burned.” Back in 2015, Sylvia Fowles sat out half a season to force a move through. One of the common factors in these instances: the practice facility. 

The Chicago Sky reportedly has the worst facility setup in the WNBA, practicing 30 miles away from Wintrust Arena at Sachs Recreation Center, a public facility in Deerfield. But that’s about to change soon, the Sky is planning a massive upgrade.

The Chicago Sky have announced that they are building a $38 million practice facility, listed as over 40,000 square feet, next to the Wintrust Sports Complex in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park. The management called the team last week to give them a glimpse of the facility that is being built. However, the Sky is years behind its competitors, who have already upgraded their facilities long ago. So the question is, by the time the ribbon’s cut in the spring, will the top players & free agents stick around?

The day after the top brass showed Angel Reese the plan, she was asked whether the Bedford Park project would help the Sky lure free agents.‘‘Y’all saw the rec where we practice at,’’ she said. ‘‘I don’t think anybody wants to practice there.’’ Although the management has indicated that the new facility will become operational before the 2026 season, delays in construction and financial issues can postpone the opening of the facility. The Sky just hopes that Angel Reese decides to stick around till then.