Angel Reese will have to sit out the first half of the Chicago Sky's Sunday matchup against the Las Vegas Aces.
On Friday, the organization suspended Reese for what it described as “statements detrimental to the team.” The team also revealed that the issue has been addressed internally.
“The Chicago Sky values the safety, respect, and well-being of every player,” the team said in a statement. “We are committed to accountability so our players can stay focused on playing basketball. This matter has been handled and resolved internally, and we are moving forward as a team.”
Head coach Tyler Marsh echoed that sentiment before Friday’s contest against the Indiana Fever, calling the move an “organizational decision” made “from the top down.”
Reese missed Friday’s game while serving a separate one-game suspension after picking up her eighth technical foul of the season in Wednesday’s 88–64 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
The newest penalty stems from comments Reese made in a Chicago Tribune article earlier this week, in which she voiced her frustration over the Sky’s struggles this season.
“I’m not settling for the same shit we did this year,” Reese told the paper. “We have to get great players [this offseason] or else I might consider moving on.”
The Sky, who entered Friday with a 10–30 record and were eliminated from playoff contention last month, have had a turbulent season.
Reese also questioned the team’s long-term stability at point guard, pointing to veteran Courtney Vandersloot’s ACL recovery.
“We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before.”
Reese later told reporters she apologized to her teammates for the remarks.
Despite the controversy, the 22-year-old has been one of the league’s brightest young stars in 2024. A two-time WNBA All-Star, Reese leads the league with 12.6 rebounds per game and 23 double-doubles this season. She's also Chicago's top scorer with 14.7 points per game and is tied for the team lead with 3.7 assists.