Angel Reese has never been shy about voicing her frustrations, but her recent comments about the Chicago Sky’s roster and future sparked a wave of backlash.
After publicly questioning whether her teammates and coach Tyler Marsh were good enough to help her chase a championship, Reese has now walked back those statements, offering an apology to her teammates and clarifying that her words were taken out of context.
Speaking after Chicago’s 88–64 win over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday night, Reese addressed the controversy head-on.
“I think the language is taken out of context. I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates, because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year.”
“I want to apologize to my teammates, which I already have about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said. And I just have to be better with my language.”
The apology comes on the heels of an explosive feature in the Chicago Tribune, where Reese made it clear that she wasn’t satisfied with the Sky’s direction.
“I’m not settling for the same s**t we did this year. 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.”
“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.”
Her words didn’t stop there. Reese questioned whether veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot, now 37 and coming off a torn ACL, could still be relied upon to lead a championship-caliber team. She even suggested the Sky needed someone younger with more energy to step into that role.
Vandersloot, of course, is one of the most decorated point guards in WNBA history, a two-time champion and the second all-time leader in assists behind Sue Bird. For Reese to so openly call out her resume struck many as disrespectful.
She also dismissed the chances of Rachel Banham and Hailey Van Lith being capable of leading a playoff team, which did not sit well in the locker room. According to reports, her comments left teammates upset, with a team meeting scheduled to address them directly.
Chicago has plenty of organizational issues the Sky were voted the “worst-run franchise” in a players poll earlier this year and still practice in a suburban recreation center while awaiting their new facility but the way Reese aired her grievances rubbed many the wrong way.
Typically, discussions about roster upgrades and coaching approaches stay behind closed doors. Reese breaking that unwritten rule brought heavy scrutiny.
Coach Tyler Marsh addressed the situation carefully, choosing not to escalate the controversy.
“We talked before the game..that will stay between me & Angel..I think that everyone had their opportunities to speak and we’ll leave it at that.”
“I think that everyone is entitled to feel how they feel. The most important thing is staying authentic to who I am…the overarching theme, is that none of us is happy with where our record has been, organization wise.”
“We’ll let the offseason handle it self as it may.”
Still, the 23-year-old forward remains the Sky’s cornerstone player alongside Kamilla Cardoso. She is averaging 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists this season while playing with relentless energy. Her motor, defense, and rebounding are already among the best in the league, and her potential is undeniable.
The Sky drafted her to be the face of the franchise, and despite her frustrations, she reaffirmed after the game that she wants to maximize what she has in Chicago, if the front office can meet her halfway.
For now, Reese’s apology is an attempt to mend fences inside the locker room.
