The Chicago Sky fell hard to the Indiana Fever in a 79-52 blowout, bringing their record to 2-5 in what’s been a rocky start to the WNBA season. But even after the disappointing night, head coach Tyler Marsh isn’t blaming rookie forward Angel Reese; in fact, he’s turning the narrative around.
“It’s Us Being Better for Angel Reese”
Despite Angel Reese finishing with just four points on 28.6% shooting, Marsh refused to say she struggled. Instead, he emphasized that the team as a whole needs to raise its level to help Reese thrive.
“I don’t think Angel struggled tonight, I think we struggled as a team,” Marsh said postgame. “It’s not about Angel being better for us, it’s us being better for Angel.”
That quote is already turning heads. While many expected the rookie to shoulder more of the scoring load, Marsh made it clear: the Sky’s current system isn’t putting her in the best position to succeed.
Angel Reese: Rebounding Machine
Even on an off-night, Angel Reese pulled down 12 rebounds, matching her season average and continuing to establish herself as one of the WNBA’s elite rebounders. Through seven games, she’s averaging 10.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, leading all rookies in boards per game.
She’s also making a defensive mark with 1.8 steals and 0.3 blocks per game, providing consistent hustle even when the shots aren’t falling.
While Angel Reese has proven her dominance on the glass, her offensive efficiency has been a concern. She’s yet to find a consistent rhythm with the ball, and her teammates haven’t created many easy looks for her in half-court sets. Marsh’s comments suggest he sees that responsibility falling on the playmakers around her.
Looking Ahead: A Tough Test Awaits
The loss stings even more considering the Fever were without Caitlin Clark, who missed the game due to injury. The Sky failed to take advantage of her absence, and now face an even tougher matchup ahead.
They’ll try to bounce back Tuesday night against the New York Liberty, one of the top teams in the East. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Angel Reese may not be lighting up the scoreboard, but the numbers show she’s still contributing. With her hustle, rebounding, and defense, the rookie has earned her coach’s public backing, and now it’s up to the Sky to return the favor on the court.
Read More: Jason Whitlock Take on Angel Reese: ‘Toxic’ and ‘Selfish’
