Angel Reese's Sky earn depressing distinction that no WNBA team wants

Reese has blossomed in 2025, but her franchise has some catching up to do.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese

Between 2013 and 2023, the Chicago Sky reached the WNBA playoffs nine times and played in the WNBA Finals twice -- a stretch that included the franchise's first championship win in 2021. The Sky have never lacked talent; players like Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, Kahleah Copper, Courtney Vandersloot and Elena Delle Donne have represented the Sky first at Allstate Arena, then at Wintrust Arena.

But the Sky is falling behind the times. Even with a blossoming new superstar in Angel Reese to count on, a new player poll has come down on hard on Chicago -- which is regarded as the WNBA's worst-run of its 13 franchises.

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The results of an anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic left little doubt, with more than 40 percent of respondents saying that the Sky's outdated facilities and organizational instability -- Chicago has hired four head coaches in three seasons -- has contributed to a perception that it is lagging behind the rest of The W.

Despite Reese's brilliance in 2025, the Sky enter the All-Star break off the back of an 86-49 home loss to the Atlanta Dream. Chicago's 7-14 record is the third-worst in the WNBA, even though Reese is pacing the league in rebounds (265) and rebounds per game (12.6) while doubling her assists from 1.9 to 3.8 per game.

Fortunately for Reese and her teammates, the Sky in 2024 announced plans to build a new $38 million practice facility in Bedford Park. However, the "Sky Town" complex will not be ready until April 2026, following an alteration to the original building plans -- meaning it will take a little longer for Reese and company to begin seeing the benefits of this investment.

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Category: Basketball