It is believed that Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky have a 50-50 shot at squeezing into the top 8 this season. But Tyler Marsh doesn’t care about probabilities. His vision starts with expectation and ends with a trophy. One of seven first-year coaches in the league, Marsh isn’t here for caveats or excuses. He’s got spacing, seasoned vets, and a promising rookie. And yet here we are. Winless. Last in the Eastern Conference. 

Chicago started the season with back-to-back non-competitive losses to Indiana and New York, both 2024 playoff squads. Understandable… tough matchups. But Sunday’s game? They dropped it by 13 points to the LA Sparks. Then, game four was supposed to be the turning point, but before the ball was even tipped, the buzz wasn’t just about what Reese would do on the court. It was about the drama in the season opener.

On May 18, the WNBA launched an investigation into alleged hateful comments made toward Reese during that very game. Amidst allegations of racism and discrimination directed at the Sky forward, the whole league stood tall behind her. The Fever, the Sky, the WNBPA, and even Caitlin Clark—all came together, denouncing hate in every form. Fast forward ten days, and the WNBA dropped the verdict: no substantiated evidence. They said they talked to fans, arena staff, reviewed all the video and audio, and just couldn’t back it up.

Sky CEO Adam Fox responded to the conclusion, saying, “We appreciate the quick action by the league and the Indiana Fever to take this matter seriously and to investigate. This process demonstrates the league’s strong stance on stopping hate at all WNBA games and events, and we will continue to support those efforts.”

Now, back to hardwood, and the heartbreak did not stop. Tuesday night vs the Mercury was right there for the taking. Chicago entered the final quarter up 71-67. And then the wheels fell off. Phoenix stormed back, outscoring the Sky 27-18 in the fourth, stealing it 94-89. Satou Sabally dropped 20 points, eight boards, and three assists.

Reese took the blame as she admitted where she lacked. She owned up postgame, saying, “AT had what 15 assists and that’s on me we stopped her scoring wise but I don’t think I did a good job stopping her…coming downhill full head of steam and just being able to guard her.” Alyssa Thomas may have had just 10 points, but she still controlled the tempo. Her court vision, physicality, and ability to go coast-to-coast are what made the difference. Sky couldn’t slow her down when it mattered most. But despite the loss, there were bright spots. Five Sky players hit double figures. Reese was everywhere with 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Cardoso added 16 points, nine boards, and four dimes. Ariel Atkins led the scoring with 21 points.

Now, we know that Angel’s rebounding is already elite, but defensively, there’s room to grow. At times, she misses key box outs, letting shooters get space. Yet, she is managing to break records. Reese just became the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 500 points and 500 rebounds. Yet again, the Sky are 0-4. They’ve officially tied the worst start in franchise history. The only other team without a win is the Connecticut Sun. But you know, Reese might not have been able to stop Thomas, but she got her revenge. 

Angel Reese settled the score

A lot can change in a year, but grudges are tougher to shake, especially when the wound is still fresh in the memory and, well, possibly on the back. Angel Reese and Alyssa Thomas don’t just share the paint as WNBA forwards; they share a history that goes back to one very intense moment during Reese’s rookie season.

It was May 25, 2024, and the Chicago Sky were up against the Connecticut Sun. Reese, still adjusting to the league, found herself in a physical scuffle for a rebound with Thomas, who had already built a reputation as a gritty, hard-nosed player. But that day, things went a little too far. In a now-infamous sequence, Thomas wrapped her arm around Reese’s neck mid-air and violently yanked her backward. Reese’s legs went flying out from under her, and she came crashing down straight on her back. The crowd went silent. Social media exploded.

And Thomas was immediately ejected for what many called a “choke-slam.” Fans weren’t shy about calling the move dirty, and Thomas faced a wave of criticism. Reese didn’t make a big deal of it publicly at the time, but as it turns out, she didn’t forget it either. Fast forward to this time, Thomas was wearing a Phoenix Mercury jersey, and the Sky were back in action. The two stars crossed paths again. Only this time, it was Reese who had the upper hand.

During the second half of the game, Reese came up to set a hard screen on Thomas. There was a little extra shoulder in there, and whether intentional or not, it sent Thomas crashing to the floor. Payback? Maybe. But the moment didn’t end there.

As she was falling, Thomas tried grabbing at Reese’s jersey, pulling at it in what looked like an effort to bring her down with her. The refs weren’t having any of it, and Thomas got called for the foul. Reese just kept walking with a little smile on her face, almost like she knew that the score was finally even. While Reese hasn’t spoken directly about the play yet, fans online were quick to connect the dots.

Now, as the Sky get ready to face Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings next, there’s hope that Angel Reese and her squad can finally notch their first win of the season. After all, they have lots to prove as a team.