Angel Reese Will Always Be One Step Ahead Of Caitlin Clark & Co. After Chicago Sky Fiasco, Per Analyst

Honesty often comes at a cost. Hard truths aren’t popular, and those who speak them may walk alone—but they can quietly influence many. Chicago’s Sky may be living proof of that. After a season of underwhelming results, Angel Reese didn’t hold back, calling on the front office to bring in “great players” this offseason. She also took a subtle jab at Coach Tyler Marsh, noting how the Valkyries have outperformed the Sky despite being “less talented on paper,” a boldness that could shape the team’s next chapter.

The Sky’s management handed Reese a suspension for half of their matchup against the Aces, citing comments they considered “detrimental to the team.” Front Office Sports reported that the entire roster had seen Reese’s remarks and voiced their frustration over the direct attacks. Ariel Atkins made her stance clear, supporting the suspension: “They have full support from our team.” Beyond the immediate fallout in Chicago, this saga is already being viewed as a potential blueprint for handling similar situations in the future, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.

Andrews said on ‘The Women’s Hoops Show’, “One thing that was kind of an afterthought of all of this was unfolding. And I wonder if you have this thought too. ‘Wow, this was such great candor; this was such a great interview.” There’s no denying that Angel Reese has never shied away from speaking her mind. Even before her recent headlines, she was known for calling things as she saw them. Last year, she took a direct dig at the league, saying, “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think it pays one of my bills. Literally.” Her candor is rare, and Andrews noted its impact.

“It has had a crazy amount of blowback. We are never going to get a player to be this honest again.’This type of honesty and this real conversation, where I don’t feel like anything she said was a lie, I think she was just very honest, and it took people aback,” Andrews emphasized. Because Reese didn’t stop at one instance. This March, she went as far as to hint at a strike: “If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.” Her words echo frustrations shared across the league, including by stars like Caitlin Clark, making Reese a rare and influential voice—and, at least in this arena of outspoken advocacy, a step ahead of Clark.

In 2024, Clark was responsible for roughly 26.5% of WNBA-wide “economic activity,” with projections for 2025 ranging between $875 million and $1 billion. Yet she’s still on her rookie contract, earning less than $80,000 a year. By any measure, Clark is among the most deserving players for a significant payday. But it’s clear she isn’t speaking out simply to chase money (maybe); her voice carries weight not for personal gain, but for the broader impact she has on the league and the game, and many still feel, CC doesn’t lock like Reese does.

Even Clark’s injury situation was handled and communicated shadily by the Fever. Every few days after being cleared, she seemed to get hurt again, leaving fans and observers frustrated. While there may have been reasonable explanations for the repeated setbacks, any friction between Clark and the Fever’s backroom staff remains largely unknown. Analysts like Andrews warn that the Reese saga could make players more hesitant to speak openly, showing just how high the stakes are when honesty meets controversy in the WNBA. But Reese doesn’t care.

Aug 25, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts during the second half of a WNBA game against the Las Vegas Aces at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Andrews remarked, “We are not going to get that again. Players aren’t going to, they are going to say, ‘Ooh, remember what happened to Angel? Let me keep my mouth shut, I’m just going to give you routine comments and quotes. And I am gonna come on your podcasts, or I am gonna do your interview, and I am not gonna answer your questions truthfully and honestly. Because what happened to Angel.” Indeed, the Angel Reese situation is a complicated one, highlighting the high stakes for honesty in the WNBA.

Rachel Banham later told the Sun-Times that she felt “blindsided” by Reese’s interview, a sentiment that reflected the mood around the Sky, especially after the team suspended Reese despite her apology, in which she noted that her “language is taken out of context.” Yet Julia Poe clarified, “A Sky staffer was present for and heard the entirety of the interview. It was not under embargo, nor did team communications make any attempts to amend or address those statements before publication.” The episode underscores the tension between player candor and organizational control, leaving lasting questions about transparency and accountability.

EssentiallySports Take: The Chicago Sky and their management were fully aware of Reese’s comments. If they truly wanted to address the issue internally, as both the press release and Coach Marsh suggested, they could have defused the situation before it exploded. They had the chance to handle it in-house, ethical gray areas aside, but they chose not to. That decision speaks louder and draws a harsh line in the sand, sending a warning to current Sky players and future free agents alike: speaking up can burn careers before it ever has a chance to improve the culture. And it will only take someone like Reese to burn that, but who will take that risk

With Angel Reese on the brink, Chicago’s digging its own grave

While the Chicago Sky works to address issues within their locker room, the situation is out in the open. A significant rift has formed between Reese and the rest of the team, including the coach. A few players, like Elizabeth Williams, remain sympathetic. “She obviously doesn’t want to disrespect us or anything like that,” Williams told the Sun-Times. Reese simply spoke the quiet truths out loud—but the ongoing tension could push her to look elsewhere, as she herself has suggested. In fact, several advisors have even recommended that course of action.

“She needs to get the hell out of there,” a WNBA exec told DallasHoopsJournal. “Chicago is probably the worst-run organization in the league. You’re gonna suspend your best player just because she’s putting pressure on you to get better? That was embarrassing to see.”

Sep 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) walks on the court during the second half of a WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Remember when Aces coach Becky Hammon publicly called out her team after their blowout loss to a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana? “Three-quarters of trash,” Hammon said. “The offense was trash. The defense was trash.” That tough-love approach sparked a turnaround: the Aces have since flipped their season 180 degrees and are now poised to enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. Fans love that kind of accountability. By contrast, the Sky opted to slap Reese on the wrist instead of taking her words seriously, missing an opportunity to confront their issues head-on.

If Reese leaves Chicago, as expected, Cardoso could be on her way out, too. The episode has further tarnished the reputation of Chicago’s management—if that was even possible. The 2026 offseason is shaping up to be one of the most chaotic in years, with a large portion of the league entering free agency. Any free agent will hesitate, then hesitate again, before answering the Sky’s call. The front office will now have to overpay in money, minutes, or vision just to get players in the door. Until a true cultural overhaul drives the rebuild, the Sky won’t be climbing; they’ll be camping in the cellar.

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