Angel Reese’s relationship with the Chicago Sky has gotten rocky over the past week, and it shows no signs of calming down. After criticizing the team’s lack of progress and hinting she might leave unless changes are made, the Sky suspended her for the first half of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces.
The fallout hasn’t gone unnoticed. Reese’s comments, which included frustration over relying on older veterans, struck a nerve with both fans and the front office.
“We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that. We need someone 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.”
Those remarks, along with her blunt push for change, highlight just how high her expectations are. According to Alissa Hirsh of the Chicago Sun-Times, Reese even voiced her opinion on the Sky’s future practice facility. During a recent meeting where players saw renderings of the new building, she advocated for expanded spaces across the board.
“At the meeting, players not only saw renderings of the facility but also had a chance to give input about what they would like to see inside,” Hirsh reported. “Reese pushed for bigger everything: locker room, training room and office space for coaches.”
While some may see that as excessive, it speaks to her desire to push the organization forward at every level.
“She needs to get the hell out of there” Angel Reese Urged To Leave After WNBA Exec Rips Sky For Suspension Fallout
Still, the Sky’s decision to bench their franchise player drew sharp criticism around the league. One anonymous WNBA executive didn’t hold back in questioning Chicago’s direction.
“She needs to get the hell out of there,” the executive told Dallas Hoops Journal’s Ashish Marthur. “Chicago is probably the worst-run organization in the league. You’re gonna suspend your best player just because she’s putting pressure on you to get better? That was embarrassing to see.”
The exec also predicted that the Sky could try to trade Reese in the offseason — or she might push her way out herself. For now, Reese has apologized to her teammates, but the rift between star and franchise seems far from resolved.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
