Third time is NOT the charm. Angel Reese is still warming up the bench for the third straight game in a row following her echoed sentiments about her team and teammates. And now she is trending beyond the court yet again. Shaq, on the other hand, is riding the AR Saga’s wave.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has thrown his weight behind the “Free Angel Reese” movement after fans began rallying behind the Sky star. In his Instagram Story, Shaq shared a reel about the tensions between Reese and the Chicago Sky, lending his influential voice to the cause.
The “Free Angel Reese” sentiment gained traction as supporters held signs like “Free Angel” and “Free #5” during games, expressing frustration with how the organization handled her criticisms and subsequent absence.
Shaq and Reese go way back—he signed her to Reebok, where he serves as President of Basketball. That connection runs deep; Reese even chose Reebok over bigger brands out of loyalty.
This backing from Shaq isn’t just lip service—it shines a national spotlight on Reese’s side of the story. With his swagger and reach, Shaq’s support could shift how the franchise air traffic controllers handle the runway.
There have already been talks among the masses that maybe Angel Reese needs to reconsider her options if she feels caged and unable to hit peak in her current environment. Although she’s yet to put some weight on that discussion, fans are quick to notice the slightest of movements and treat them as signs.
No Angel Reese Departure in Chicago, says Sky GM
Despite the offseason drama and fan uproar in Chicago, the Chicago Sky are sticking with Angel Reese—at least for now. General Manager Jeff Pagliocca made it clear: “That’s the direction we’re going to move, is that she’s on the roster,” he told Fox News.
Pagliocca went on to praise Reese for her growth: “Angel is an ascending young talent in this league who’s had two very, very good seasons here in Chicago. Obviously, we went through what we did. I feel like we closed the chapter on it. She spoke to her teammates, she spoke publicly. We moved on as a team. She’s a special player. And I have good conversations with Angel daily, with her team daily. They’re constant, and they’re productive.”
With that, the “Free Angel Reese” crew may get quiet—for now. The GM’s words show Chicago’s not waving the white flag, Reese stayed on the radar, and the organization sounds like they’re moving forward.
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.
