Following her remarks that seemed critical of her own squad, Chicago Sky player Angel Reese will be held out of the initial portion of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces.
The organization communicated this action via social media on Friday, describing Reese’s statements as “damaging.”
Sky’s leading coach, Tyler Marsh, informed reporters on Friday that Reese’s suspension for the first portion of the game was a “team-level decision” and originated from the “highest levels,” according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
“The resolution will be managed privately, in line with our usual practice,” Marsh commented.
Reese is already set to sit out Friday’s game against the Indiana Fever, the result of accumulating her eighth technical violation of the season on Wednesday.
Reese, currently in her second season in the WNBA, expressed to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune that she is ready to advocate for changes after the Sky experienced further difficulties this year.
“I’m not going to accept a repeat of this year’s poor performance,” she stated. “We need talented players. We have to acquire exceptional players. This is absolutely necessary for me.
“I’m eager and willing to collaborate with top players. I will do everything I can this offseason to attract the best players. It will be especially critical this offseason to draw in high-caliber talent because we can’t be satisfied with what we have now.”
During the same conversation, she suggested she might request a trade from Chicago if the situation doesn’t improve quickly.
“My preference is to remain here for my entire career. But if that isn’t possible, I may need to explore other options that benefit me,” she mentioned. “While I’m here, I’ll try to keep an open mind about what I have available and maximize its potential.”
Reese later mentioned that she had apologized to her teammates and claimed that her words were “misinterpreted.”
“I don’t believe I’m annoyed. Perhaps I’m actually frustrated with myself at the moment,” Reese admitted on Wednesday. “I believe the language has been misinterpreted, and I didn’t intend to disrespect my teammates since they have supported me throughout the entire year… I want to apologize to my teammates, which I’ve already done concerning the article.”
Reese’s second year hasn’t unfolded as she had anticipated. While she has performed reasonably well individually, averaging 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, the Sky have been eliminated from playoff contention with a 10-30 record for the season.
The Sky have witnessed numerous stars depart over the years due to a lack of success and ownership’s insufficient commitment to building a winning team. It remains to be seen whether Reese will follow a similar path.
