The Chicago Sky as an organization do not deserve Angel Reese
So, I’m driving my daughters home after a game along with one
of their teammates (Shout out to Bishop McNamara Girls Volleyball
team undefeated in conference play) and I turn on Sirius XM to
drown out the chatter of teenage girls, which most dads who drive
carpools can definitely relate to.
But then, they all grew quiet as they heard a clip of Angel
Reese talking
"I’m not settling for the same s*** we did this year," Reese told Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune recently. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year."
"I am very vocal about what we need and what I want," Reese said. "I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can."
Then they played the Angel Reese Apology when she said:
“I’m frustrated at myself right now,” Reese admitted to
several reporters after the game. “I think the language is taken
out of context. I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my
teammates. They’ve been through this with me throughout the whole
year. They’ve busted their ass just how I’ve busted my ass. They
showed up for me through thick and thin when nobody could see
anything.”
Then, they head a clip a podcaster by the name of Jason
Whitlock going on and on about Angel Reese. He was saying something
to the effect of….
"Who does Angel Reese think she is ? LeBron James
? Kevin Durant ? James Harden ? She thinks after two
seasons in the WNBA, she is some sort of commodity that has to be
surrounded by the best and greatest players. Angel Reese is
delusional.
This did not sit very well with any of them. They responded
with:
“I know she didn’t answer that the best way but who is he and
who does he think he is ? Where did he play”
Then Baby Sierra googled him and said:
“I know he’s not talking. He doesn’t look like he played
anything ever in his life. Is he healthy ? He needs to be more
focused on laying off the carbs and late night snacks than
criticizing Angel Reese”
Then, they heard another clip by former WNBA player Angel
McCoughtry who said,
“You know what I would do Angel ? I would get one of my
endorsements, say give me an extra $100,000 so I can give all my
teammates $10,000 just to show them I care”
Addy, who is one of the best DS’s in the DMV, said
“I don’t agree with that at all. That would seem like she is
trying to buy their forgiveness. I understand she shouldn’t have
talked bad about her teammates to the media but she doesn’t have to
do all that. That’s too much. Just a simple I’m sorry should
suffice”
I told them that I knew Angel McCoughtry and had interviewed
her a few years ago so I was going to reach out to her and invite
her on The Collision because I’m sure there is more to it than that
quote (which I later did)
This prompted an entire discussion about the media and how
players have to be careful because the media loves to pit players
against each other.
I told them how that ignited a beef between two of my former
teammates Kwame Brown and Gilbert Arenas that is still going on
today.
I explained to them how RG3 fumbled when the media asked him
if he would be more effective if he had more protection and he
unfortunately took the bait and criticized his offensive line and
ultimately lost the team.
I broke down how as a rule of thumb, you never, ever criticize
your teammates to the media. You can criticize them all you want in
the locker room but never to the media. We even ran through a few
practice scenarios and I tried to set them up the way the media
tries to set up players.
So, a few days later Addy comes in the car and
says
“Mr Thomas, did you see they suspended Angel Reese ? That’s
not worthy of a suspension. They said conduct detrimental to the
team”
Imani chimed in with:
“You treat your superstar player like that ? It’s almost like
they were trying to embarrass her. I don’t think that organization
deserves Angel Reese”
Baby Sierra said:
“Half a game ? So not a full game but just half ? They are
blowing me bro !!! Why would they do that ? Just to make her look
bad ? It may be time for her to leave Chicago. In fact, she should
go to Vegas. Her with Aja Wilson ? They would be unstoppable and
Aja could show her the ropes like train her up. But no they
definitely don’t deserve Angel Reese”
All valid points made by the entire carpool.
Ok a lot to unpack here:
First and foremost, while I agree that Angel Reese broke a
cardinal rule which is that you simply don’t criticize your own
teammates to the media, was that worthy of a suspension ? For
conduct detrimental to the team ? Is that how you treat a superstar
player ?
As expressed in the carpool, It does appear as though the
Chicago Sky were attempting to embarrass Angel Reese. To reprimand
her in the public as they are fully aware that her critics are
literally salivating at any and every opportunity to lambaste her.
It was almost as if they were intentionally attempting to set her
up for public condemnation , media bashing and social media
slander.
However, those plans seemed to have quickly
backfired. Following the announcement of her suspension, a
groundswell of online support flooded social media as many fans
began to voice their backing of Angel Reese, and subsequently their
criticisms for the Chicago Sky’s management. Many fans suspected
that the Sky were unfairly retaliating against Angel Reese for
simply telling the truth. That her claims of the organization’s
shortcomings, which included inadequate facilities, a losing record
and a mismanagement of their existing roster, resulted in swift
retribution by the Chicago Sky organization.
Some fans pointed out that other players, such as leading MVP
candidate Aja Wilson, had also criticized her team publicly but
faced no consequences.
The line in the sand had been drawn. At the Chicago sky’s
final home game, fans actually held up signs that read Free Angel
Reese and Fire Jeff Pagliocca who is the GM of the Organization. It
was crystal clear who the fans in attendance were siding
with.
All across social media there were correlations being made
that the treatment of Angel Reese was a microcosm of a larger
systemic problem within society where
Black Women, in particular, are often disproportionately over
policed for speaking their minds.
Exhibit A: Washington Post reporter Karen Attiah was actually
fired for voicing her opinion on Charlie Kirk who projected evil
through a microphone of hate. Whose rapid fire bullets of
wickedness somehow comforted the soul of a demographic that
wrapped their arms around his wickedness like a warm blanket, but I
digress
Debates also began to flood social media of which destinations
would be best for Angel Reese next WNBA season. Some voiced that
they would love to see her paired with rookie of the year Paige
Bueckers, while others even suggested her taking her talents to
Indiana to be paired with her created nemesis Caitlin
Clark.
At any rate, It’s seems like a forgone conclusion that a new
destination for Angel Reese should be her top priority in the
off-season. Someplace that will value her and treat her with
the dignity and respect that is deserving of an All star caliber
player.
However, this squandering of talent isn’t anything new for the
Chicago Sky Organization. They have been mismanaging WNBA players
for quite awhile now.
As co founder of the Daily “W” and host of “Let Her Shoot” and
“Heat Check” Trysta Krick recently broke down on my podcast The
Collision “Where Sports And Politics Collide” The Chicago Sky
had…..
•Hall of Famer Sylvia Fowels who was there in 2015 who was
reportedly frustrated with the front office and with the lack of a
championship vision and demands a trade
•Elena Della Donne who was the first 50, 40, 90 player in WNBA
history, was drafted there but requested a trade after her rookie
deal
•Candace Parker who is from Chicago, goes there, wins a ring,
then wants to leave.
•Gabbie Williams who wanted to play for the Euro league and
James Wade, granted permission to go and miss training camp.
However, after she went there, The Sky for whatever reason changed
their minds and decided to suspend her according to the story she
told Sue Bird on her podcast.
•Marina Mayberry discussed internal racial tensions in the
organization that led to her no longer wanting to be
there
•Courtney Vanderslooth also wanted out after playing there for
over a decade
•Kaleah Copper ended up getting traded
•Courtney Williams ended up getting traded
Trysta Kirk told me:
“There are so many players that could be on the team right now
but elected to leave the Chicago Sky due to their issues with the
organization. Could you imagine a Chicago team with Kaleah Copper,
Angel Reese, Marina Mayberry, Kamilah Cardoza. That’s a
championship caliber roster. But they have a history of squandering
away talent”
Now, back to Angel Reese.
If she would’ve said to the media “We” have to get better as a
team and “We”can’t have the type of season we had this year and
“We” have a lot of work to do in the offseason and “We” have to put
ourselves in the best position to be successful, there wouldn’t
have been any issue.
But that aside, it’s difficult not to notice that now, roughly
a month later, GM Jeff Pagliocca repeated to the media almost the
same exact thing verbatim that he suspended Angel Reese for
saying.
“We know that [Vandersloot] is not going to be playing 38
minutes a game,” Pagliocca said during the exit interview. “We’re
going to need somebody to be here and be capable of playing that
position if she’s not ready.”
This sends a crystal clear message to Angel Reese. Basically,
It’s not that I disagree with anything that you said, in fact, I’m
going to repeat what you said as if it were my idea but I’m going
to publicly reprimand you for the exact same thing I am going to
say just because I can.
Maybe the fans holding the “Fire Jeff” signs have a
point.
Let’s examine his time time served as General Manager of the
Sky.
The last two seasons have been rather abysmal to say the
least, for the Chicago Sky. In the two seasons combined, the Sky
have mustard a measly 23 wins (and yes that’s in both seasons
combined). Meaning they have lost over 60 games under two different
head coaches. They finished dead last in the WNBA despite having a
pair of 2024, All-Star rookies in forwards Angel Reese and center
Kamilla Cardoso. In addition, this year‘s rookies Haley Van Lith,
and forward Maddie Westbeld have had difficult seasons, despite
being exceptional talents.
To add to that, Pagliocca elected to fire Teresa Weatherspoon
whose connection to Angel Reese prompted her to voice her
disapproval of the decision to the media.
Angel Reese told reporters that she was "heartbroken" and
"lost for words," and that Weatherspoon was the "only person that
believed" in her as a Black Woman in sports, and called
Weatherspoon an “unsung hero" Angel Reese also shared a heartfelt
message of support on social media, stating that her relationship
with Weatherspoon was “formative” and "will last forever" and that
the coach did not deserve to be fired.
If your star player feels that strongly about the head coach,
why would you fire her in the first place ?
Lastly, Pagliocca fumbled in the draft as well. The Sky
secured the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and Sonia
Citron aka The Silent Assassin was available, but Pagliocca passed
on her. Now, who knows what season she would’ve had if she had
joined the Sky. Again Haily Van Lith in a different system more
than likely would’ve flourished. Meanwhile, this past season with
The Washington Mystics, who drafted The Silent Assassin, she became
an immediate sensation. Named a WNBA all star and came in 2nd in
Rookie of the year voting to Paige Bueckers.
A case could be made that Pagliocca’s drafting decisions were
detrimental to the organization’s future (see what I did there) in
that he traded Citron’s draft rights to the Washington Mystics for
a player with one year left on her deal. So, the Sky ended up
paying more for veteran Ariel Atkins, and will most likely lose her
this off-season for nothing.
But wait, there’s more.
In addition to giving up Citron, the Chicago Sky also gave up their 2027 first round picks. So if Chicago’s first round pick ends up being higher than The Mystics first round pick in two years, then this trade is even more detrimental to the organization.
The Chicago Sky currently have several players who are free agents. Almost double digits, and you have the gall to treat your star player as dispensable? You’re gonna publicly reprimand her for telling the truth about your organization? You’re going to attempt to embarrass her in front of the entire basketball world and expect her to want to return to the same organization that treated her that way?
Not to mention the marketing fumble. Reebok released the first edition of the highly anticipated Angel Reese 1- her first signature shoe on September 18th and it sold out in minutes.
For a team that is literally at the bottom of the barrel as far as their record, you would think they would embrace a player with that type of marketability and utilize it through advertisements, endorsements, like every NBA team does with their superstars. They’re across billboards, on side of buses, bobble head dolls, t shirts for every attendee with her signature shoe on it, Bayou Barbie dolls passed out at the games, made her feel that she would never want to even think about playing for another franchise
But they didn’t do that.
And as expressed by Bishop McNamara Volleyball Team Carpool:
“You don’t treat your superstar player like that”
“You don’t try to publicly embarrass your all star player”
“You don’t try to set your superstar player up to be bombarded with criticism”
And that’s why…..
“The Chicago Sky don’t deserve Angel Reese”