Angel Reese had a rough start to the 2025 season, but once she picked it up, she was unstoppable. She did whatever was asked of her. Be it playing point guard, making transitions, delivering no-look passes, or leading the team. Still, throughout the year, Sky was at the bottom of the league. What went wrong? Well, if you ask Lisa Leslie, both the player and the team are victims of W’s concerning trend.

The Hall of Famer, two-time WNBA champion, two-time WNBA Finals MVP, and eight-time All-Star, Leslie had built her career on discipline and mentorship. So, when she saw the Chicago Sky and AR’s situation by the end of the season, she noticed the pattern.

Speaking on Good Follow with host Ros Gold-Onwude, she said, “I think that her (Reese’s) basketball IQ is very high and any team would love her effort. So I don’t know that she necessarily had the veteran leadership that she should have had coming into the WNBA. I wish that for her… She didn’t have that. And she still hasn’t had that. And that’s the part where I feel like, wow, that your introduction to this league really hasn’t been what most rookies have.”

At first glance, Leslie’s words might sound like generic veteran advice. But beneath them lies a warning – a subtle acknowledgment that something is changing in the WNBA. Teams are getting younger, rosters are being restructured, and veteran presence is becoming harder to find. And nowhere is that reality clearer than in Chicago.

The team entered this offseason with ambition. After a season in which Reese averaged a historic double-double, the franchise appeared ready to build around its young core. But in doing so, they made a decision that might haunt them later: they chose to part ways with several veterans who served as the team’s quiet anchors. Players like Dana Evans, now at Las Vegas, Brianna Turner, Isabelle Harrison, and Diamond DeShields are all gone.

It was Reese and others who had to fill their places, albeit with thin guidance. While Reese still delivered, leading Chicago with 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game this season, and even pacing the WNBA in rebounding and 23 of 30 double-doubles, the Sky still finished tied with the Dallas Wings for the worst record in the league at 10-34 – just one year after going 13-27. So, the warning Leslie highlighted is proving true.

But…is veteran leadership in the locker room essential? Absolutely. Last offseason, Indiana hired Stephanie White and added WNBA champions DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard. And if you ask young star Caitlin Clark, adding leadership was much needed. “I think it’s exactly what we needed in our locker room. But also, they’re not just really good basketball players; they’re great leaders and great people, and I know the front office prioritized that,” she said, referring to the new additions. But is it just Caitlin Clark? A big no, even Angel Reese has capitalised on veteran leadership. 

Last offseason, when AR was criticised for her rebounds, it was Leslie who stood up and said, “She’s still amazing.” Not just did she help her with strong words, but she even mentored her to improve. “I told Angel day one, she’s going to be amazing,” she added on the Fast Friends podcast’s September 21, 2024, episode. And yes, getting coached by Leslie at Unrivaled, Angel truly was amazing. It reflected too when she was with Rose BC as champions, after being one of the few players who scored a double-double in the 3 by 3 league.

But with Sky Angel no more has that leverage, and according to Leslie, it’s affecting her. Though it ain’t just her, as even AR is acutely aware of the gaps in her own team’s setup.

What’s next for Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky?

Just last month, Reese gave an interview to the Chicago Tribune, airing her frustration with the front office, coaching staff, and roster construction. While she apologized later and faced repercussions, including criticism and a half-game suspension, her words indicated deeper cracks: “I am very vocal about what we need and what I want… 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,” Reese said.

She also emphasized the need for the front office to add more players and highlighted that Vandersloot’s comeback after her ACL injury might not meet expectations given her age. So, simply put, Reese knows the situation inside and out, and after all this scrutiny, it wouldn’t be surprising if she decides to move in a different direction and requests a trade – even though she’s signed through 2026 with a team option for 2027.

But what if she stays? The Sky currently has four players inked – Kamilla Cardoso, Maddy Westbeld, Angel Reese, and Hailey Van Lith. That means six others, including Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins, will be hitting the market as unrestricted free agents. This leaves Chicago with a cap space of $1,239,470 for the upcoming season to add more valuable players around Reese. However, considering a possible lockout and the new CBA, this might not be feasible.