The WNBA Draft Lottery is almost here, and anticipation is rising, but one team has already caught heat: the Chicago Sky. Not a single Sky player was set to attend, underscoring the growing disconnect between the roster and management.

Angel Reese’s frustrations, “I’m not settling for the same sh*t we did this year,” did give a hint later in the WNBA 2025 season that not is well in the Sky locker room. Also, Tankathon lists the Chicago Sky with a 7 percent shot at landing the top pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. It’s their longest odds, but it still means the outcome hits roughly once in every fourteen draws.

With no Chicago players stepping up to represent the team, the situation became even more pronounced. Dallas sent Maddy Siegrist, Seattle sent Gabby Williams, and Washington sent Kiki Iriafen. However, the Chicago Bulls decided to send only Nadia Rawlinson, their co-owner and operating chairman, to the ESPN broadcast special, unlike most teams, which sent a player.

The decision only underscored the larger issues surrounding the franchise. Frustrated fans quickly took to social media, calling out what they saw as clear mismanagement, and the backlash grew loud enough to capture widespread attention.

Chicago Sky faces backlash over the player’s absence

The reaction of the basketball community to the Chicago Sky’s player absence at the draft lottery was a mix of disbelief and frustration, which highlighted the unfortunate situation of the franchise.

“Crying, could they really not convince one player to represent them?” one fan wrote. The reaction captured the strain between the Sky’s leadership and its players after a 10-34 season, tied for the league’s worst. With no players attending the lottery, including Angel Reese, many saw it as a clear sign that trust in the organization had eroded.

“The Chicago Sky is the funniest organization in the league,” one fan quipped, a sarcastic dig at the team’s dramatic fall from grace. From championship aspirations in 2021, the Sky have since managed a dismal 23-61 record over the last two seasons. The “funniest” label, of course, was a pointed reference to the team’s penchant for self-inflicted wounds.

“Ofc, the Sky is the only org that doesn’t have a player to represent them,” read one tweet, highlighting their unusual historical shortcoming. They were the only WNBA team established before 2010 without a single first overall draft pick in almost twenty years. This disparity was underscored when Dallas sent Maddy Siegrist, Seattle brought Gabby Williams, and Washington showcased Kiki Iriafen, while Chicago could only offer co-owner Nadia Rawlinson, dressed for business.

“Streets are saying the Chicago Sky will be represented by business casual and a dream,” quipped another user, referencing Angel Reese’s pregame tunnel ensembles as a glimpse into style, a personal brand in full bloom. The franchise’s trading decisions in recent times have raised several eyebrows, especially the deal involving the trade of the 2026 first-rounder for Hailey Van Lith.

Last but not least, one comment came out harshly as it read “Sorry, a— org.” The franchise that had gone through amazing ups and downs and, in just four years, had gone from a championship contender in 2021 to one of the most tumultuous teams in professional basketball. Can the Sky turn the tables amid growing upsets between fans and the team?