“Everyone is focused on the last two games and winning, and that’s where the communication has been with Angel. Obviously, the hope was to play her last game, and she reported the back pain. Coming into today, she went to shootaround again, and she was fine, so we are hoping to get her on the floor today. The expectation is for Reese to play tonight,” said coach Tyler Marsh ahead of the matchup against the Las Vegas Aces at T-Mobile Arena. Reese had missed the reverse fixture with a back injury, plus a team-imposed suspension that followed her fiery interview with the Chicago Tribune.

Reese had several issues with the Sky and didn’t hold back, going on a “full rant” in the interview.

• She wasn’t happy with the way the organization was going about its business
• She wanted better players around her.
• She questioned whether a 36-year-old Courtney Vandersloot, fresh off an ACL injury, was the right fit for the future.
• She didn’t believe the likes of Rachel Banham and Hailey Van Lith belonged on a team with playoff ambitions.
• She wanted Tyler Marsh to coach harder

Reese’s comments didn’t sit well with the Sky, and it’s not hard to see why. The franchise, rated the worst-run team in the league according to a survey by The Athletic, quickly decided to suspend her for the first half of the September 7 game against the Aces. She was expected to return in the second half, but that didn’t happen as the team later announced she was dealing with a back injury.

Everyone in the community already knew the issues Reese spoke about, which makes the half-game suspension feel completely unnecessary. But that’s where the drama kicks in. According to Bricks Center on X, Angel Reese is now purposefully sitting out games because she’s unhappy with how the Sky has handled the entire situation.

But was that really the case? After the last game, coach Marsh revealed, “Yeah, she reported it to us during pregame. And so, in conjunction with medical staff, Angel and the medical staff, we wanted to be as cautious as possible.” He further noted that the team would be monitoring her back issue on a day-to-day basis, and Reese herself was determined to play the last two games of the season. But that didn’t happen tonight.

Why is Angel Reese Not Playing Tonight vs the Aces?

Unfortunately for the fans, Reese, despite being at shootaround, couldn’t make it to the game. Why? The same back problem. While it’s easy to speculate that her absence is tied to the ongoing drama in Chicago, the reality is that this is a bigger issue.

Reese had already missed 10 games earlier this season due to a back injury, and the team has been clear that they won’t take any risks with their star player. She’s been phenomenal this season, averaging a team-high 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Recently, she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 300 rebounds in a single season. On top of that, her streak of six consecutive games with 15+ rebounds still stands as a WNBA record.

For a big like Reese, who’s constantly active in the paint, her back muscles are always under strain. Even the slightest injury can cause problems, which is likely why both the team and Reese herself are taking no chances, prioritizing her long-term health. This is the right call — the Sky have nothing left to play for this season anyway. While speculation will keep swirling, it seems clear this is a decision based on player safety, not Reese going against the organization. After all, if the Bayou Barbie wanted to rebel, she wouldn’t have apologized and traveled with the team.