Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky didn’t end the 2025 season on the best of terms. The relationship already seemed tense, but things got exponentially worse when an interview in which Reese criticized the Sky’s roster and team-building strategy came out. The organization deemed her comments “detrimental to the team” and suspended her for half a game. Reese never stepped onto the court in the second half of that game or in any other game for the rest of the season due to a back injury.
There was also some reporting and rumors suggesting that Reese’s comments caused some issues with her Sky teammates at the time.
When Dream GM Dan Padover and head coach Karl Smesko held a press conference on April 12, that issue came up. Padover quickly shut down any concerns and made it clear that he didn’t expect any locker room issues from Reese.
“We always look forward, and, like we mentioned earlier, to get an opportunity to bring a player of Angel’s talent in and someone that our players deeply respect, for us, it was a no-brainer,” Padover said.
When Padover was asked to confirm that he had no concerns about Reese’s impact on the team’s chemistry, he said, “That’s correct.”
Can we really blame Reese for her frustration with the Sky?
Sure, an interview in which you openly slam your organization and teammates isn’t a great look, but Reese’s frustration with the organization was warranted. Even if Courtney Vandersloot hadn’t gotten injured the 2025 roster wouldn’t have been good enough to win a lot.
Reese also isn’t the only player to voice her frustration with the organization. Bec Allen called her time in Chicago “a bit miserable” and criticized the organization’s lack of investment in its players.
So, no, one interview from last season should not define the way we see Reese as a teammate or locker room presence. Plus, players like Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray already seem to have a good relationship with Reese from Unrivaled and Team USA.
Reese needed a fresh start
Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky were obviously not a good fit, and that’s okay. It happens sometimes.
Everyone is getting the fresh start they deserve. Reese will get to play for a winning team with great 3-point shooters around her, Kamilla Cardoso will get to be the Sky’s focal point, and Chicago has a chance to turn things around after signing Skylar Diggins, Azura Stevens, and DiJonai Carrington in free agency.