Expectations were high for Angel Reese heading into her sophomore WNBA season. After a solid rookie year and an offseason full of headlines, brand deals, and public appearances, fans were eager to see how she’d level up in 2025. But after two games, things aren’t going as planned.
Thursday night’s 99-74 home loss to the defending champion New York Liberty was a tough pill to swallow. It followed an even more lopsided 93-58 defeat in the season opener to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. In total, the Sky have been outscored by 60 points over their first two games-and the criticism is piling up.
Reese had one of the roughest outings of her pro career against New York, going 0-of-8 from the field and committing five turnovers in 27 minutes. Her effort on the boards (12 rebounds) and on defense (three steals) stood out, but poor shooting and free throw struggles (2-of-6 from the line) overshadowed the positives.
Midseason Grit or Sophomore Slump? Reese’s Start Sparks Debate
The reaction online was swift and unforgiving. “Never put her near [Caitlin Clark] in a conversation ever again,” one post on X (formerly Twitter) declared. Others questioned whether Reese put in the necessary work during the offseason, pointing to her busy media schedule.
It’s a tough spot for any second-year player-especially one with a massive spotlight. Reese’s confidence, public presence, and on-court fire have made her a standout since LSU, but now she’s facing the kind of scrutiny that comes with stardom.
Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon urged patience. “Angel’s growing. This is part of the process,” she told The Chicago Tribune. “We’re two games in. She’s not backing down, and neither are we.”
FormerWNBA star and ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo backed that up. “Sophomore slumps happen. Reese is rebounding well, and the offense will catch up,” she said on WNBA Today.
The Sky travel to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday. A bounce-back performance from Reese could go a long way-not just for the standings, but to quiet the noise around her early season.
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