The Chicago Sky entered the offseason after failing to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs. Their last regular season game against New York Liberty ended 86-91, adding a fourth consecutive loss, ending the year with a 10-34 record and ranked 12th in the league.
However, who stood out despite the losses and the back injury that kept her out of the courts for seven games, was the 23-year-old forward, Angel Reese.
Angel returns to the courts
The Sky star averaged 14.7 points and 3.7 assists per game. In addition, she owns the most rebounds in the league with 12.6, also being the fastest player to reach 500 points and rebounds in the WNBA.
And, although her numbers could not translate into wins and Playoff qualification for Chicago, Reese showed her commitment to the sport and returned to the court after a short vacation.
On her official Instagram account, the two-time All-Star shared in her stories a photo of herself in front of the mirror, announcing that she had been training, “WE BACK, WE GOT THINGS TO GET READY FOR.” Then, Reese shared a video of Iren Rainey where she was seen working on perfecting her shot.
Angel last played for Sky on September 3 against Connecticut Sun (it was also the team’s last win). Following the automatic suspension she received for accumulating eight technical fouls on the season, she was absent for the September 5 game against Indiana Fever.
She was then suspended by Sky after her interview with the Chicago Tribune where she stated: “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“.
Although Reese has since apologized for her comments, these words were deemed “detrimental” to the team and she was ruled out for the first half of the game against the Las Vegas Aces. However, a back injury prevented her from playing the second half. This injury also prevented her from playing the last two games of the Sky’s schedule and had already sidelined her for several games previously.
The truth is that this controversy has put her continuity in the team in doubt, but her stories show that she continues to strive and that she will take her game wherever she goes.
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