After trading away their first-round picks to acquire Ariel Atkins, the Chicago Sky sent a clear message — they aim to play playoff basketball once more. That’s the mission new head coach Tyler Marsh was brought in to fulfill. “This is our era. This is our time.” It’s not just a catchphrase–it’s the vision that team owner Nadia Rawlinson has committed to. And with every move, Angel Reese and co are showing they mean business, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Sky’s offseason moves and draft decisions point to real momentum. While they’re not topping the championship odds just yet, the foundation is there. With a powerful frontcourt led by Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the dynamic playmaking of Atkins and Hailey Van Lith, and the veteran poise of Courtney Vandersloot, the Windy City has assembled a squad that’s built to contend.

Emma Baccellieri of Sports Illustrated is all in on the Chicago Sky this season–and especially on Angel Reese. Speaking on The Ringer’s WNBA show, she couldn’t hide her excitement: “Given that she’s (Reese) the best rebounder in the WNBA and she can handle the ball–her ball-handling looks better this year too–just have her run transition. She’s doing a really good job of finding Kamilla Cardoso, too. Post players can be really difficult to find, but she’s finding her. It’s been really, really exciting this preseason in a way that makes me psyched for the Chicago Sky.”

After finishing last season with a disappointing 13-27 record and missing the playoffs, the Chicago Sky hit the reset button. They brought in head coach Tyler Marsh to bring stability and a fresh perspective to the locker room. So far, it seems to be working. The Sky wrapped up their preseason with a solid 2-1 record, and their doubleheader against the Minnesota Lynx gave fans a clear look at how much Angel Reese has grown in just one year.

The Bayou Barbie looked much more comfortable operating from the perimeter and pushing the pace in transition. One standout stat? She dished out five assists in the loss to the Lynx–something we haven’t seen often from her game. Across the three preseason games, Reese totaled 31 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists. Those numbers, paired with her growth on the court, are giving Sky fans plenty of reasons to be excited for what’s ahead. And Angel Reese herself has shed light on what’s fueling her growth.

Angel Reese credits Unrivaled for her growth

Despite a stellar rookie campaign where she led the league in rebounds and earned a spot on the WNBA’s All-Rookie Team, Angel Reese’s 2024 season came to an early end. A wrist injury kept her out of the Sky’s final five games, and without her on the court, Chicago fell short of a playoff berth.

Reese didn’t let the offseason go to waste. She stayed locked in, competing at a high level with a focus on growth. She suited up in the Unrivaled and made her presence felt, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. Even better? Her team, the Rose Basketball Club, came out on top, winning the league’s inaugural championship. For Reese, this was the experience she needed to grow more as a player.

“I think even just this offseason, just being able to have a great point guard like Chelsea, being around [Kahleah Copper], [was] the best thing for me this offseason,” Reese said. “Being around vets and then coming back to Chicago and having great vets is just going to be great for us.”

No doubt, Angel Reese’s time at Unrivaled is already paying off. The early signs of her growth have been incredibly promising, and the buzz around Chicago is real. With a revamped roster and Reese looking sharper than ever, the Sky are shaping up to be one of the most exciting teams to follow this season. Can they make a deep playoff run–or maybe even go all the way? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see!