WNBA Fans Are in Agreement on Angel Reese Leaving Chicago Sky for New Home

The way the Chicago Sky performed in 2024, one would think the only way is up. However, the Sky have dug deeper as they are unlikely to match their 2024 tally of 13 wins despite a 4-game increase to the schedule. That is despite having an All-Star Angel Reese for the majority of the season with an on-paper upgraded cast around her. Reese has improved on her rookie year with 14.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Almost all metrics have seen a rise bar from her boards, which are already the most in the league. However, the team has not stepped up with her, causing an urgent message from the Sky forward.

Angel Reese desperately wanted to be in the postseason this year. “We will make the playoffs next year!! 🙏🏽😇” she wrote in 2024. They haven’t even come close to achieving that, and to make matters worse, there doesn’t seem to be a clear vision for getting there next season or the season after. Jeff Pagliocca and Coach Tyler Marsh have faced heat throughout the year, but Reese is taking that to another level.

“I’m not settling for the same s−−− we did this year,” Reese told the Tribune. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.” The forward is nothing but bold, and just into her sophomore year, she is already demanding a better squad, but she is not leaving it all to the front office.

“I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason.” She said. While detailing offseason plans, she sent a hint of a move away from the Sky, saying, “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.” The threat of the face of the franchise potentially leaving has brought the Sky fandom rallying behind Reese after her harsh words.

WNBA Community Backs Angel Reese’s Stand

Angel Reese has been a contreversial personality to say the least. Her outspoken remarks have garnered her both hate and support. Remember when she said, “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all”? That was just the start of the many bold statements she has made in her WNBA career. She is just in her second year in the WNBA, and she is already demanding a team that shares her vision. Reese is more than ready to help out, and the fans have her back.

“I mean, she isn’t wrong.” Wrote a fan. The Sky’s offseason was rated B+ by ESPN as they brought in Rebecca Allen, Courtney Vandersloot, and Kia Nurse. Vandersloot tore her ACL pretty early in the season, and suddenly, they did not have a creator amongst them. After that injury at the age of 36, Reese does not expect her to be the primary creator for Sky. “We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said.

For Reese, they need a facilitator who is “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.” While that sounds a little shade at the current crop of players like Hailey Van Lith, the rookie point guard out of TCU, but according to another fan, “I mean, what do you expect. This is how winners talk.”

Reese was pretty straightforward about her current state, and that was bound to ruffle some feathers. The 2023 National Championship winner with LSU wants to carry that legacy into the big leagues. And if it is not available in Chicago, she will try and achieve it elsewhere. She herself is taking extra effort to improve her game while turning some haters into fans. And expects the franchise to do the same. This threat could have the Sky front office sweating, which is good for nothing, according to some fans.

“Good I’m glad she is telling truths and get rid of that dumbass worst GM in the league now.” Wrote another fan. Jeff Pagliocca has made some questionable decisions, to say the least. Last year’s coach, Teresa Weatherspoon, was fired with very little explanation. She was replaced by the inexperienced Tyler Marsh, who has not turned out any better.

The decision to trade the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2025 for Ariel Atkins has not panned out the way Pagliocca and coach Tyler Marsh insisted it would. The No.3 turned out to be rookie all-star Sonia Citron. On the other hand, Atkins went through injury troubles and negated the win now attitude she was brought in for. The Sky also gave up the team’s first-round draft picks to the Lynx back in April, a move that might come back around to haunt them after the 2025-26 season gets underway. With Reese’s public callout, either the attitude might shift, or Jeff is in serious trouble, a win-win for the fans.

Another fan presumed to be a Wings faithful wanted something similar out of Paige Bueckers, writing, “How can we get Paige to have the same mindset lol?” Bueckers had a rookie season that was much like Reese’s. She has shone despite being weighed down by an underwhelming team and a first-time head coach. However, she is only in her rookie season and still has a year to make improvements. If they repeat their 2025 season next year, maybe we could see Bueckers saying something similar this time next year.