One minute, Angel Reese was serving a suspension; next, she was out with an injury. The Chicago Sky’s chaotic season took another sharp turn Sunday night when a sudden back issue derailed their star forward’s planned return. With the team’s year already lost, the focus has shifted from winning games to a bigger question: Is the franchise’s cornerstone okay, and what does this turbulent week mean for her future in Chicago? Here is the latest update on her injury.
What Is the Latest Update on Angel Reese’s Back Injury?
Reese was expected to play in the second half against the Las Vegas Aces after serving a first-half suspension.
After serving a suspension during the first half of tonight’s game vs. Las Vegas, Angel Reese has been ruled out for the second half due to a back injury, per the team. pic.twitter.com/lCXkcLG45s
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 8, 2025
However, that plan was scrapped at halftime. During the Sky’s 80-66 loss to the Aces, the medical team announced that Reese would not return because of a back issue. The news caught many by surprise, as there had been no mention of an injury before the game started.
In the postgame presser, head coach Tyler Marsh clarified that the team knew about the issue beforehand. “She reported it to us during pre-game, and so in conjunction with the medical staff, we wanted to be as cautious as possible.”
This is not a new problem. The back issue has now caused Reese to miss 11 games during the 2025 campaign, an issue that dates back to when she first experienced tightness in late July against the Washington Mystics. Her absence has been costly for Chicago, as the Sky have a dismal 1-11 record when she is sidelined.
Looking ahead, Marsh suggested the team is taking it day by day. “Obviously, with two games remaining, I know Angel wants to be out there, and so we’ll continue to work with her and our medical team and see what the best method of approach is moving forward.”
With Chicago at 10-32 and out of playoff contention, there is little reason to rush Reese back. Her long-term health is clearly the priority now.
Why Was Angel Reese Suspended From the First Half Against the Aces?
The injury, however, was only half the story behind Reese’s absence. The chaos started earlier in the week when the WNBA handed Reese an automatic one-game suspension for picking up her eighth technical foul, which ruled her out against the Indiana Fever on Sept. 5.
But the team was not finished. The Sky added their own disciplinary action by benching Reese for the first half against the Aces because of comments she made in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
In the interview, Reese was blunt. She criticized the team’s roster construction, called for big offseason changes, and even suggested she might leave in 2027 if things did not improve.
“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,” she said.
She also questioned Courtney Vandersloot’s effectiveness and suitability for the team upon her return from injury. “We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said.
Her frank remarks, particularly about the injured veteran, did not sit well with the front office or Sky fans. While Reese later apologized, saying she “didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates,” the Sky’s management still issued the half-game suspension.
Ironically, Coach Marsh had discussed the plan to keep Reese ready for the second half before the game, focusing on preventing stiffness or injury.
“Whether it’s heating pads or whether it’s being on the bike and staying active from that standpoint, I think different players operate differently,” he said. “So we’ll trust our medical staff to be able to keep her ready and locked in for the second half.”
Coach Tyler Marsh on Angel Reese: On how she’ll stay warm while sitting out the first half to prevent injuries. pic.twitter.com/8F36TTyYZN
— C. C.,Esq. (@ItsCwaysWorld) September 8, 2025
Once her back injury flared up, that plan became irrelevant, and Reese never checked in. What was intended as a one-and-a-half-game penalty effectively turned into two full games on the sideline.
This whirlwind of events, from her public criticism to the suspensions and a recurring injury, has put both Reese’s health and her relationship with the franchise under a microscope. With Chicago’s turbulent 2025 season essentially over, the focus shifts entirely to the future. For the Sky and its star player, the final games are no longer about wins and losses but about managing her body and preparing for what promises to be a pivotal 2026 season.
