Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese remains out with a lower back injury, with no end in sight to her extended absence.
Wednesday’s 71-62 road loss to the struggling Connecticut Sun marked Reese’s sixth straight game on the sidelines. The WNBA’s rebounding leader (289) last played during Chicago’s 103-86 road defeat against the Washington Mystics on July 29. Afterward, she noted that she tried to “push through” her back ailment that had cost her the previous two contests.
The two-time All-Star hasn’t suited up since and has yet to be cleared for basketball activities, leading many to believe she could be shut down for the season.
How Far Is Angel Reese From Returning to the Court?
On Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe reported on Reese’s repeated setbacks during her recovery process.
“Despite her availability being labeled as day to day, however, the forward is not making visible progress toward a return,” Poe wrote.
The team insider added that “Reese did not travel for the road game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday at the advice of the team’s medical staff and attended Sky practice Monday at Sachs Recreation Center in street clothes.”
Additionally, Chicago State of Mind Sports tweeted that “there is still no timetable for Reese’s return to the court.” The outlet’s update accompanied a video of Chicago coach Tyler Marsh addressing the franchise cornerstone’s desire to return and give her team a much-needed boost.
“She wants to be out there,” Marsh said. “She’s a competitor, she’s a fighter, she’s a winner, so it’s hard for her not being out there for her teammates. But we want her to be as healthy as possible when she is ready to come back.”
There is still no timetable for Angel Reese’s return to the court.
Coach Marsh on Reese’s mindset navigating her back injury. #Skytown pic.twitter.com/aJLDqHLD8D
— Chicago State of Mind Sports (@ChiStateOfMind_) August 13, 2025
The Sky have gone just 1-5 over their last six games without Reese and 1-8 for the season with the 23-year-old on the shelf. Their latest letdown dropped them to 8-24, only two games ahead of the league-worst Sun (6-26).
Can Reese Be Shut Down Due to Back Injury?
During Wednesday’s pregame media session, Marsh was asked if there have been “any discussions about potentially shutting Angel down for the season.” The first-year head coach didn’t rule out the possibility, underscoring the importance of the team prioritizing Reese’s well-being.
“I leave that to the medical staff. I think, for us and for Angel, if she’s healthy, she wants to play, we want her to be out there to be able to play,” Marsh said. “We just don’t want to put her in harm’s way.”
Pregame Media Availability:
Coach Marsh on if there have been discussions about shutting Angel Reese down for the season. #Skytown pic.twitter.com/6gE4N8lNtY
— Chicago State of Mind Sports (@ChiStateOfMind_) August 13, 2025
Chicago sits 7.5 games behind the league’s final playoff spot with 12 outings remaining. As such, the organization may opt to continue playing it safe as another lottery finish looms.
