Angel Reese walked into the 2025 WNBA season with championship dreams and All-Star expectations. Instead, she’s watching from the bench while her Chicago Sky teammates battle through what could be their most turbulent season in recent memory.
Between critical comments about her own team, mounting suspensions, and a lingering back injury that just won’t heal, Reese’s sophomore campaign has become everything she hoped to avoid.
Why Was Chicago Sky Star Angel Reese Suspended?
The controversy began when Reese opened up to The Chicago Tribune about her frustrations with the Sky’s direction. The 23-year-old forward didn’t hold back, questioning whether building the roster around veteran Courtney Vandersloot made sense while she recovers from an ACL tear.
Reese’s comments went further, expressing her desire for younger teammates with championship experience. She hinted that without significant changes, she might need to reconsider her future in Chicago. The message was clear: the current approach isn’t working, and patience is running thin.
The backlash hit immediately. Teammates felt blindsided by the public criticism, and the organization faced questions about team chemistry. Despite Reese’s subsequent apology to her teammates, the damage was done.
The Sky’s response came swiftly and publicly. “Because of statements detrimental to the team made by Angel Reese during league-mandated media, she will not play in the first half of the game on September 7 against the Las Vegas Aces,” the team’s official statement said.
The organization emphasized their commitment to accountability while trying to keep the focus on basketball. “The Chicago Sky values the safety, respect, and well-being of every player. We are committed to accountability so our players can stay focused on playing basketball. This matter has been handled and resolved internally, and we are moving forward as a team.”
Statement from the Chicago Sky pic.twitter.com/kf8qXvEkGb
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 5, 2025
However, Reese’s suspension issues extended beyond the Tribune interview. She was also suspended during Chicago’s 97-77 blowout loss to the Indiana Fever after accumulating her eighth technical foul of the regular season.
The eighth technical came during their matchup against the Connecticut Sun with just 0:46 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Under WNBA rules, any player reaching eight technical fouls faces an automatic suspension without pay.
The Sky made sure to clarify this suspension was entirely separate from the Tribune interview situation, focusing solely on Reese’s on-court conduct throughout the season.
How Did Injuries Complicate Reese’s Situation Against Las Vegas?
What should have been a straightforward suspension became more complicated during the Sky’s 80-66 loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Reese was scheduled to sit out only the first half due to her disciplinary suspension, but she never returned for the second half.
The reason was a back injury that kept her sidelined for the remainder of the game. Despite participating in the team’s shootaround earlier that day, Reese appeared during warmups with a compression wrap on her back, signaling ongoing discomfort.
This back problem isn’t new for Reese. The injury has persisted since the All-Star break in July, creating a recurring issue that has already cost her 10 games this season.
With crucial matchups approaching against the Aces and New York Liberty, Reese’s availability remains uncertain. The combination of disciplinary issues and physical limitations has created a challenging situation for both the player and the organization as they navigate the final stretch of what has become a disappointing 2025 campaign.
