The Chicago Sky’s season may be over, but the drama sure isn’t. Angel Reese, one of the WNBA’s most talked-about rookies, has been at the center of a storm after openly criticizing her team’s front office, coaching, and even longtime guard Courtney Vandersloot. And now, Shaquille O’Neal has jumped in to take her side.
Reese didn’t sugarcoat anything in her comments earlier this month. She said the Sky didn’t do enough in free agency, pointed out that head coach Tyler Marsh needs to demand more from his players, and even suggested Vandersloot shouldn’t be the lead point guard anymore. Not surprisingly, those remarks set off a wave of backlash — some fans applauded her honesty, while others thought she was out of line for a rookie.
Behind the scenes, it hasn’t been smooth either. Reports say her relationship with Vandersloot is strained, and there’s already talk that the Sky might explore trading Reese. Some say it could even be her own request if things don’t improve.
Enter Shaq. The Hall of Famer has been close to Reese since her LSU days — he even signed her to Reebok — so it wasn’t a shock when he posted an Instagram video backing her. In it, he highlighted Chicago’s organizational issues and used the hashtag #FreeAngel, making his support crystal clear.
And here’s the thing: Reese might not be as wrong as people want to believe. Chicago’s general manager, Jeff Pagliocca, admitted in his September exit interview that the team needs to do better in several areas — basically echoing some of the same points Reese made. So the criticism aimed at her feels a bit unfair to many observers.
At the end of the day, the Sky have a decision looming. Do they stand by their outspoken young star and address the bigger problems, or do they move on from her and risk losing not only a rising face of the league but also the backing of a powerful ally like Shaq?
One way or another, Angel Reese’s voice is shaping the conversation in Chicago — and Shaq just made sure it’s not one the team can ignore.
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