Chicago Sky’s $38 Million Failure Shows Reality Behind Angel Reese’s Complaint

Tyler DeLuca said on No Cap Space WWB, “Chicago has not always been a great organization. Uh, has never really been a great organization.” Sure, the Sky have had some standout players, but the facilities, treatment, and investment? Often left a lot to be desired. Then came Angel Reese, and suddenly the gaps were glaring. Back in 2019, the last time the Sky enjoyed good numbers before Reese, they averaged 6,748 fans per game. In 2024, with the ex-LSU star on the floor, that jumped to 8,757. Numbers up, excitement up, but how was she introduced?

Not with a parade, not with fanfare.. nope, at a rec center that could’ve doubled as a high school gym. Now in her sophomore season, has Chicago returned the favor? Well, Reese’s remarks made it pretty clear.

Angel Reese didn’t hold back in a recent Chicago Tribune interview, calling out her own frustrations and the state of the Chicago Sky. “I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese said, making it clear she wants the team to bring in top-tier talent. She stressed, “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.” Beyond calling for better coaching and roster upgrades, Reese signaled that she’s willing to make hard decisions for her career, saying, “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.” 

And when you revisit that anonymous player’s poll, it’s safe to say Reese was probably checking the ‘Do Better’ box. As she’d said, “You guys saw the Rec that we practice at. I don’t think anybody wants to practice there.”

Last year, ESPN reported that the Chicago Sky were set to build a $38 million practice facility ahead of the 2026 season, a huge move after years of struggling with one of the worst setups in the WNBA. Their current digs were 30 miles away from Wintrust Arena at a public facility in Deerfield, which didn’t exactly scream “professional home base.”

The new over-40,000-square-foot center was supposed to be next to the Wintrust Sports Complex, boasting two regulation courts, private lounges, a chef’s kitchen, a film room, training facilities, and even a content studio—basically everything a top-tier athlete could want. Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson called it “transformational” and said it would finally set the standard for player resources, thanks to a public-private partnership with Bedford Park.

But here’s the thing: the facility was originally slated for a December 2025 opening. However, the project has faced setbacks due to expanded plans and financial challenges. The Sky executives rolled into practice on Tuesday to unveil the fancy new facility designs. Completion date? Crickets. Marsh only managed, “Everything should be in motion before the start of next season.” Practice facilities aren’t just perks anymore; they’re non-negotiable. With the WNBA booming and 2026 free agency looming, the clock is ticking… and the Chicago Sky might want to speed up before players run out of patience.

The Chicago Sky’s management has always been under scrutiny, and this year, The Athletic’s annual anonymous player survey made it painfully clear why. Around 40 players (no rookies) were polled, and a whopping 40.7% called the Sky the worst-run franchise in the league. The Connecticut Sun were next at 29.6%, followed by the Los Angeles Sparks at 14.8% and the Dallas Wings at 7.4%. When asked why, many pointed directly to the Sky’s outdated practice situation. “They’re still practicing in a rec center. That’s not … ideal,” one player said. Another added, “A lot of stuff always seems to be going on there.”

Currently, Sky practices take place in conditions that lag far behind other teams, and the gap is stark when compared to franchises like the Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty, who have invested heavily in state-of-the-art facilities and support systems. The Mercury boasts a $100 million facility, while the Liberty is preparing an $80 million complex. Against that backdrop, the Sky’s setup looks especially weak, leaving players frustrated and contributing heavily to their unenviable reputation as one of the league’s worst-run organizations.

Angel Reese’s apology doesn’t mean she is going to let the franchise off

In that same Chicago Tribune interview, Angel Reese had also taken a sort of dig at her teammates. “We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at… We need someone, probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before,” Reese said. She even suggested that players like Hailey Van Lith or Rachel Banham don’t have it either for a playoff run.

However, after FOS reported that Reese’s future with the Sky might be in danger after these comments, the Bayou Barbie has issued a heartfelt apology.

“I’m probably frustrated with myself right now,” Reese said. “I think the language is taken out of context. I didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole season. They’ve busted their ass just like I busted my ass. They showed up through thick and thin with me when nobody could see anything. I would apologize to my teammates, which I already have, about the article and how it was misconstrued.”

However, her apology didn’t mention Tyler Marsh or the front office. Still, Marsh did say that he talked to Reese and “that will stay between me and Angel. But I think that everyone had their opportunities to speak. And we’ll leave it at that.” Why we say she’s not going to let the franchise off? Because the All-star CBA meeting was eye-opening for her. “Yesterday’s meeting really woke me up to the eyes of, we aren’t getting what we deserve,” Reese had said, adding, “They show us the numbers from 2026–27. They don’t show you 2030–31. My mom told me when I was younger, they’ll show you the money here. But what about the longevity of it, the players that are coming after us, next year’s players?”

Yes. So, she’s going to keep fighting for what she deserves.