For a Chicago Sky team that has struggled throughout the 2024-25 season, even the rare bright moments seem to come with an unwanted twist. After finally snapping a lengthy losing streak with a convincing 88-64 win over the Connecticut Sun on September 3, the squad should have been celebrating its most dominant performance in weeks.
Angel Reese led the way with 18 points and showed flashes of the star power Chicago desperately needs. However, instead of basking in the victory, Reese finds herself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
What Happened With Angel Reese During the September 3 Game?
The Sky entered the Connecticut matchup already on shaky ground. Their confidence has been low throughout the campaign, and with 10 wins and 30 losses underĀ their belts, their playoff hopes have long since disappeared.
Still, Wednesday’s winĀ offered a much-needed morale boost, giving fans and players a glimpse of what the roster can do when clicking. Unfortunately, despite the victory, Reese’s night took a sharp downturn that would overshadow her strong performance.
In the second quarter, a heated battle for position under the basket with Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards escalated. Reese made contact with Edwards’ head, sending her to the floor and forcing officials to stop play for review. After examining the play, the referees ultimately assessed Reese with a technical foul.
Angel Reese was assessed her 8th technical foul of the season after incidental contact with Aaliyah Edwards on this play.
She will be suspended for the Sky’s next game unless it is rescinded.
Was this worth a tech? š¤pic.twitter.com/PYRohlOHjb
ā ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 4, 2025
That single whistle pushed Reese into dangerous territory within league rules. The WNBA’s technical foul system is strict and unforgiving. The first three fouls draw $200 fines each, the subsequent three increase to $400 apiece, and once a player hits the eighth, the penalty jumps to $800 plus an automatic one-game suspension for the next technical.
Reese’s foul against Connecticut was her eighth of the 2025 season, triggering the punishment. As a result, she will miss the Sky’s next matchup against the Indiana Fever on Friday, September 5, while also being hit with an $800 fine.
How Did Angel Reese’s Comments Create Additional Drama?
The suspension only adds to Reese’s turbulent week. Before the Sun game, she had already voiced frustrations about Chicago’s performance in a candid interview with Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.
“I’m not settling for the same s*** 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,” said Reese during the interview with Poe.
Her comments spread quickly through the WNBA community, sparking significant backlash from the Sky’s fan base. Many interpreted her remarks as criticism of her current teammates and the organization’s roster construction. By Wednesday’s postgame interviews rolled around, Reese admitted she had regrets and apologized to her teammates for how her remarks were perceived.
“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 done about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said. And I just have to be better with my language,” added Reese during the postgame interview.
The past few days have been rollercoasters for Reese, from a public relations stumble to an in-game altercation that led to suspension. The timing couldn’t be worse for Chicago, which finally found some rhythm in its blowout victory over Connecticut.
Now, as the Sky prepare to take on the Fever without one of their key contributors, all eyes will be on how they respond to losing their leading scorer and rebounder. The game will be an early test of whether Chicago can maintain momentum despite the ongoing drama surrounding their star player.
