Chicago Sky Slammed Online For Suspending Angel Reese

The Chicago Sky is facing intense backlash after announcing it will suspend star Angel Reese for the first half of an upcoming game against the Las Vegas Aces. The controversial decision comes just days after Reese publicly voiced frustration with the team’s front office over their dismal 2025 season. In their announcement, the Sky stated the suspension was for “statements detrimental to the team,” a move fans are now calling “retaliation.”

On X, formerly known as Twitter, the Chicago Sky shared a statement, explaining that it “values the safety, respect, and well-being of every player. We are committed to accountability so our players can stay focused on playing basketball.”

The statement continued, “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.”

According to the Sky, the incident involving Reese “has been handled and resolved internally, and we are moving forward as a team.”

In an interview with Julia Poe from the Chicago Tribune, Reese opened up about the disappointing season the Sky have had, which, so far, includes 30 losses on the season.

Reese, who was drafted by the Sky seventh overall during the 2024 WNBA Draft, expressed her desire to continue competing in Chicago, but only if things get better for them as a team.

“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want. I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” she said.

The WNBA superstar said she was not “settling for the same sh-t we did this year” before explaining how crucial the upcoming free agency period will be for her team.

“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,” Reese said.

According to a previous report from The Blast, the firestorm that followed Reese’s comments was intense, with some of her biggest critics questioning her intentions. Reese, however, took accountability for her actions and expressed gratitude for her teammates.

“I’m probably frustrated with myself right now,” the LSU alum said. “I think the language is taken out of context. I didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole season. They’ve busted their [butts] just like I busted my a-s. They showed up through thick and thin with me when nobody could see anything. I would apologize to my teammates, which I already have, about the article and how it was misconstrued.”

In response to the suspension, social media users have rallied to defend the Bayou Barbie, with many labeling the move as “retaliation” from the team over comments that sports journalists and fans largely agreed with.

“So retaliation was your response? Is this high school or professional sports?” someone wrote on Instagram. “Yeap. Organization is the problem. This is a joke,” another posted.

A third user asked, “Why draft her and Cardoso and not put any pieces around them? And fire a veteran coach for someone who can’t compare to the current one?”

Another added, “As a season ticket holder for many years, this is disappointing. The organization is a problem. This is the reason players don’t want to come play here. The team will never be successful if y’all keep this up. Do better.”

“So she is being punished for telling the truth? Look at the team’s standing. It’s obvious that some changes need to be made,” another user wrote.

On X, the support for Reese was so strong that the phrase “Free Angel” rose to No. 9 on the platform’s trending topics list.

Several users shared posts, stating their beliefs that Reese would request a trade during the offseason. Other users questioned why the Sky would share the information about Reese’s suspension publicly, considering the amount of unwarranted vitriol she receives online.