The WNBA's Biggest Drama is in Chicago
When the Chicago Sky selected Angel Reese with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, it was supposed to be a new chapter for the franchise. The Sky, who had been a losing team for most of their history, were getting a superstar with a massive following and a game that was built for the WNBA. Two seasons later, Reese has lived up to her on-court promise, but the Sky’s front office is still finding ways to get in the way.
A Talent-Wasting Franchise
The Sky have a long and storied history of running off talent, and it seems that tradition is alive and well. As WNBA journalist Trysta Krick noted, the Sky have had a long list of disgruntled superstars leave the franchise, including Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker, and Courtney Vandersloot. It's a history that has left the team with a lot of "what-ifs."
The irony is that Reese’s frustration with the team’s roster construction is something the general manager, Jeff Pagliocca, later echoed. The message to Reese was unmistakable: when she said it, it was "insubordination"; when her general manager said it, it was a "plan." This double standard is especially troubling, as Black women, like Reese, are often criticized for speaking their minds.
A Suspension That Backfired
The Sky’s decision to suspend Reese for half a game for "statements detrimental to the team" was a heavy-handed move that quickly backfired. Fans flooded social media with support for Reese, and signs reading "Free Angel Reese" appeared at the team’s final home game. The punishment looked petty and only amplified the online abuse Reese has been facing since she entered the league.
As if that weren't enough, the Sky also fired coach Teresa Weatherspoon, a move that left Reese "heartbroken." Reese noted that Weatherspoon was the only person who "truly believed in me" as a Black woman in sports. It was a tone-deaf decision that made it clear the Sky doesn't seem to care about keeping their franchise player happy.
An Uncertain Future
The Sky have not only alienated their star player but also made a series of baffling decisions that have set the franchise back. This year, they passed on a future All-Star in Sonia Citron and mortgaged their future for a veteran who is likely to leave in free agency. It’s no wonder that fans are already debating where Reese will play next year.
Reese has options. She's a proven star who is still only at the beginning of her career. She deserves to be with an organization that treats her with the respect she has earned, and the blame won't fall on her if she decides to leave. It will be squarely on the shoulders of an organization that seems intent on driving its best players away.
