At Sky, the Angel Reese fire leaves traces

Sky GM Commits to Angel Reese Amidst Playoff Miss

The Chicago Sky’s 2025 season was one to forget, finishing with a dismal 10-34 record and a last-place tie with the Dallas Wings. Despite the underwhelming performance, General Manager Jeff Pagliocca has affirmed that power forward Angel Reese remains a crucial part of the team’s plans moving forward.

Reese’s Rollercoaster Season and Controversy

Reese, a second-year player, faced challenges in her sophomore season. After a strong rookie campaign, she struggled initially in 2025 but managed to elevate her play towards the end of the year. Off-court issues, however, cast a shadow over her performance. Following a heated post-game exchange with teammates, Reese was suspended for half of the final game against the New York Liberty.

“Until further notice, this is the direction we are going to take, that is to say that she is part of the workforce.” – Jeff Pagliocca, Chicago Sky GM

Pagliocca: “She is an exceptional player”

Pagliocca has expressed confidence in Reese, emphasizing that the team has turned a page on the incident. Despite not attending the final press conference of the season and being suspended, Pagliocca confirmed that Reese remains a vital part of the team’s plans.

“Angel is a promising young player in this league and who has known two very good seasons here in Chicago. Of course, we went through what we went through. But I think the page is turned. She spoke with her teammates, she spoke publicly. We turned the page collectively. She is an exceptional player.

I speak to myself daily with Angel and his team. These conversations are regular and fruitful.” – Jeff Pagliocca, Chicago Sky GM

Rebuilding the Sky for 2026

The Sky’s GM acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, with only four players currently under contract for next season (Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, and Maddy Westbeld). Courtney Vandersloot is expected to return from injury, and Coach Tyler Marsh’s position is secure, according to Pagliocca.

With pressure mounting on Pagliocca to improve the team’s performance, he aims to build a competitive, complementary roster around Reese. The GM is prepared to face fan criticism, stating, “I appreciate that we can have passionate fans, who want to see their team win. It’s the same for us, and I know that I have the total support of the owner. We have very good exchanges. There is a lot of mutual respect.”