Disagreements are a natural part of managing a team and managing your teammates. But when things go south and it goes public, the battle extends to the onlookers who always have something to say.
Recently, Angel Reese made headlines with her blunt take on the Chicago Sky’s future, and not everyone liked how she delivered it. After Reese told the Chicago Tribune that the team couldn’t “rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at” and stressed they needed a younger, championship-tested piece, former NBA player Etan Thomas weighed in with advice of his own.
“I would say as a rule, I would say that you never talk bad about your teammates to the media,” Thomas said on his podcast. He explained that the same point could have been made differently. “I would say that a better way to say the same exact message that she was conveying would have been, ‘We need to get better, we have to do better next year’. We cannot and use ‘we’ over and over again.”
Angel Reese’s words sparked conversation because they highlighted the thin line between leadership and criticism. She isn’t just pointing out roster needs, she’s also making a statement about how ready she is to win now. For a rookie, that kind of public honesty can be seen as bold or reckless, depending on who you ask.
The Chicago Sky’s offseason will now be under a sharper spotlight, with Angel Reese’s comments reminding everyone that player voices are louder than ever in shaping team direction.
Etan Thomas Defends Angel Reese After Sophie Cunningham’s Comments
Angel Reese’s recent remarks didn’t just stir debate in Chicago—they also reached Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham, who had her own take on the situation.
“There’s just some things that you can’t say,” Cunningham told reporters. “I’m a very team-first person. I always put the team before my feelings, and I think that should be a standard. So, you gotta protect your locker room. You can’t be saying everything you’re feeling because that’s not a good look.”
That criticism drew a quick reaction from Etan Thomas, Michael Jordan’s former Washington Wizards teammate. “Ummmmmmm I think maybe you should sit this one out [Sophie Cunningham],” he wrote online.
Thomas’ response shows how divided opinions are on Angel Reese. How it progresses from here depends on AR and the team. And while departure talks has been shut down by the Sky management, the damage is done and the guarantees of an amicable relationship between Angel and the Sky remain questionable.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
