Franchise Stuck at the Bottom as Missed Moves Haunt the Sky
The Chicago Sky entered the 2025 season with young stars, seasoned veterans, and a new head coach in Tyler Marsh. But just eight games in, the team sits at a troubling 2-6 record. And now, critics are turning their attention to the front office decisions that may have doomed them before the season even started.
Angel Reese, the rising face of the franchise, has been a standout, most recently notching a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. But even with her effort, the Sky continues to fall short. And as veteran Courtney Vandersloot remains sidelined, their lack of scoring depth and defensive presence is impossible to ignore.
Critics Sound Off on Offseason Moves
On The Ringer WNBA podcast, national reporters Seerat Sohi and Meghan L. Hall didn’t mince words about what’s gone wrong.
“They just lost a lot of talent last year,” Sohi said bluntly.
“When I really think about it now, they didn’t actually replenish.”
The most glaring issue? Letting Chennedy Carter walk after she averaged 17.5 points per game and led the Chicago Sky’s offense during her best career stretch. Add to that the departure of Marina Mabrey, who was contributing 14 points and 4.5 assists, and the Sky’s offense has clearly regressed. Despite Ariel Atkins averaging 13.4 points, critics argue she’s overburdened and lacks the supporting cast.
Even the players brought in as replacements, Rachel Banham and Moriah Jefferson, have failed to fill the void. The Sky currently sits 12th in offensive rating, with little promise on the defensive end either.
Angel Reese Targeted by Trolls, Defended by Teammates
Despite her consistent play, Angel Reese has faced harsh online criticism, especially after recent matchups against the Indiana Fever. But her coach and teammates have made it clear: Reese isn’t the problem.
“I don’t think Angel struggled tonight, I think we struggled as a team,” Marsh emphasized after the loss.
Ariel Atkins also stood up for her teammate, calling out the toxic discourse:
“This is a 23-year-old kid… the amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day, she still shows up.”
Reese herself has acknowledged the pressure but remains focused on growing her game and helping lead a rebuilding squad.
While Reese continues to show promise and resilience, the Chicago Sky’s larger problems stem from a series of missteps in roster building. As the team navigates this rocky start, the front office will be under increasing scrutiny for failing to retain and replace key talent.
Until then, Angel Reese remains the face of hope of the Chicago Sky, and perhaps the one player capable of leading them out of their current slump.
Read More: Chicago Sky’s Struggles Continue, and Angel Reese Is a Big Part of the Cause
