The Chicago Sky are far from having their best season. They’ve lost seven games in a row, several players are injured, and the hopes of their fans are fading fast. Is it time to let Angel Reese rest?
It seems the Sky are already considering that possibility. The team has struggled since the start of the WNBA season, with key players injured — including Reese. As talk of a potential “shutdown” for the star player gained traction, ESPN responded forcefully.
According to Essentiallysports, during ESPN’s WNBA Hoops Streams podcast, a fan suggested: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but maybe it’s time for Chicago to shut down their star player for the rest of the season… A playoff spot is far from realistic, and injuries keep piling up… Seriously, something has to change, and maybe someone needs to go.”
The Sky hold a 7–20 record and are drifting further from playoff contention. Plus, Sloot, Atkins, Reese, and Hailey Van Lith are all sidelined with injuries. The team needs to act now to avoid a complete collapse. However, ESPN experts disagreed with the idea of shutting down Reese.
Angel Reese has been averaging:
16.3 points
12.5 rebounds
4.1 assists
1.4 steals
0.8 blockson 50% shooting in the last 16 games
— AndFuckingOne (@andfuckingone) July 31, 2025
A strong response from ESPN
ESPN host Ari Chambers made her stance clear: “Well, if you’re Angel Reese, I understand the Chicago Sky aren’t in a great spot right now, but as the franchise player of that team, you’re going to want to do what you can when you’re healthy… I’m not sitting out if I’m Angel, and it’s not time for her to go. Where is she going? She is the future of this franchise. She’s a double-double machine. She just made history as a sophomore in this league. No, you don’t shut her down. You all are crazy!”
Co-host LaChina Robinson added: “One of the most beautiful things about this season has been watching Angel Reese truly blossom as a player… The way she started, she could’ve folded and said, ‘You know what? Maybe this isn’t for me.’ But she kept fighting. She shows up every day to practice, she shows up for shootarounds.”
For now, shutting Reese down is just a suggestion, and the final decision lies with the coaches and team staff. What’s certain is that the Chicago Sky need to act fast, as the numbers are not in their favor.
