Angel Reese is leaving the Chicago Sky, a reality that always felt a little inevitable from the day she joinedt he team. That wasn't her fault — Reese brought with her a strong set of skills on the floor and the kind of fanbase that moves mountains and sells jerseys — but absolutely falls in the shoulders of the team's front office.
The series of events that led to Reese's departure don't end and begin with the team's current coach and staff. But things certainly escalated after James Wade departed the team midseason in 2023, a decision that set off a chain of events that got to where we are today. Reese was drafted as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and later that season the Sky traded Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham.
The Sky could have been a strong home for Reese, who was immediately embraced by the team's fans. She clearly gelled with the team's then-coach Teresa Weatherspoon, and appeared poised to learn alongside fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso. At the time, many hoped the pair would grow into a powerful front court duo.
But there were questions about who the team was genuinely building around, and who could become the fast of a franchise that was in turmoil. Weatherspoon was fired at the end of the 2024 season, a decision Reese has since made clear was not one she supported.
The Sky also traded their third-overall pick in the 2025 draft, their 2027 second-round pick, and rights to swap 2027 first-round picks to bring Ariel Atkins to the team last year. Sky fans were nearly immediately displeased with what the team gave up in order to bring Atkins onboard, but her talent and value for the team was not disputed. In fact, many believed Atkins could be part of the overall effort to build around Reese, and to surround the young star with talent that could push the Sky toward their own season goals.
Unfortunately for the team's fans, none of that will happen now, and it's beginning to feel like there is no concrete plan for improving the team. The Sky, who won the Championship in 2021, were at the bottom of the league last season, tied only with the Dallas Wings. The Wings were similarly mismanaged last season, but have since made huge changes in terms of leadership. The team also has the No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft.