You never expect to see Titanic reenacted in the middle of a WNBA game, but here we are.
Moments after a gutting 83-75 loss to the Mystics, Angel Reese and Brittney Sykes embraced in a pose that had people on social media comparing it to the iconic “I’m flying!” scene from Titanic. Arms outstretched, smiles on their faces – for a split second, it looked like they had won together, not against each other.
Then Reese herself added fuel to the moment’s virality. “I’m actually so dead cause what were we doing here?????” she posted on X, tagging Sykes and laughing along with everyone else. The internet ate it up.
But that hug? It might’ve stung a bit more than expected for Chicago fans.
Chicago’s Collapse, Sykes’ Show, and a Trade That Wasn’t
Because Sykes wasn’t just a postgame BFF. She was the problem. The veteran guard dropped 32 points on 13-of-24 shooting, leading Washington back from a 12-point halftime deficit and snapping their three-game skid.
That third quarter? A full-on ambush. The Mystics opened with an 18-4 run and outscored the Sky 24-12 in the frame, flipping the game on its head. Sykes set the tone with the first four points and never let up.
Meanwhile, Chicago – and Reese – were left scrambling.
The rookie finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, but also committed 7 turnovers.“That’s on me,”Reese said postgame. “I’m trying to make the right plays, but I’ve got to be better.”
Chicago leads the league in turnovers (16.6 per game), and a lot of that weight falls on Reese, who’s now functioning more as a point-forward. That shift comes with upside… and learning curves. According to The Athletic, Reese’s usage rate has jumped nearly 30% compared to her LSU days.
Still, she’s showing flashes. That’s not the problem. The real issue? No one else is stepping up when it matters.
Kamilla Cardoso added 18 and 10, but Chicago couldn’t stop the bleeding. And it doesn’t help that fans are left wondering what if. What if they’d traded for Sykes – a move that was reportedly on the table earlier this year?
Instead, the Mystics have the firestarter. And the Sky? They’ve got a meme and a mess to clean up.
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