Angel Reese has just hit her peak career stretch so far. In the recent months, she has been dominating the court as well as getting positive news off the court. Reese was named as a NBA 2K cover athlete alongside reigning NBA League and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony. And the joy was twofold as Reese is in her signature sneakers on the cover which also served as an announcement for the shoe.
“Of course, we do everything BIG.” She wrote after the announcement, and Reese has been going big with respect to her performance as well. She is carrying the team on her back, averaging 18.7 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists over her last six outings. While the team has not seen better days, losing 3 out of the last six, Reese remains a bright spot. So, to honor their star player’s induction into a very special group of women athletes to grace the cover of a game, they have arranged a special gesture.
The Sky face the Minnesota Lynx next and will be licking their wounds after a controversial and nerve-racking 80-75 last week. This time, they will have extra support from the Wintrust Arena as they will be wearing shirts honoring Angel Reese’s appearance on NBA 2K26. Along with the fans, the players were also seen wearing the same merchandise during their pre-match practice.
2K26 #skytown pic.twitter.com/vMPzlbiyll
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) July 12, 2025
They will hope these shirts give them the extra punch to snap the losing streak against the Minnesota Lynx. They last won against them in 2023, after which they lost all three games last year and the only game against them this season. A four-match losing streak to go with a poor all-time record, which stands at 18-28. Reese and Co. will look to turn this around in the upcoming game. Around 10,000 fans are likely to attend their game against the Lynx, who will get these special jerseys.
They came close to snapping their losing streak in the last game, but according to Reese, the officials played a role in holding them back. Her postgame rant quickly went viral, pointing to a major free-throw disparity as Minnesota had 17 attempts from the line while the Sky had just 8. Had the calls been more balanced, it is possible the result could have swung in Chicago’s favor.
To make matters worse, even Reese’s opponents admitted they were getting away with fouls. During a livestream, Minnesota players Courtney Williams, Natisha Hiedeman, and Bridget Carleton reacted to Reese’s comments and agreed that Carleton committed at least one obvious foul that went uncalled. That sets up another storyline to watch in the rematch as Minnesota looks to defend Reese around the rim and the officials decide how to call contact in the paint.
Reese will be locked in to take down the league leaders this time. Minnesota has already had a glimpse of what she’s capable of, she dropped 16 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists in their last matchup. Even in the preseason, when she wasn’t going full throttle, Reese impressed with 9 points and 8 boards in just 19 minutes. The Lynx lack a true force on the glass, with Napheesa Collier leading them at 7.9 rebounds per game. As a team, they rank just ninth in the league with 34 rebounds per game.
How the Chicago Sky Plan To Control Angel Reese’s Work Load
No matter how elite Angel Reese looks on the court, it’s easy to forget she’s still just a sophomore. Since wrapping up her college career, she hasn’t taken a real break, even competing in the Unrivaled 3v3 league between the 2024 and 2025 seasons. For the Sky, she’s their engine, and keeping her on the floor is key. But so is keeping her healthy. After dealing with injury last year, the team knows it can’t afford another setback. Head coach Tyler Marsh seems to be playing the long game, already giving Reese some rest late in games as he looks to manage her workload wisely.
“Maddy Westbeld has shown growth in adjusting to the speed of the game, and she has been beneficial in helping reduce Angel Reese’s minutes as of late,” Coach Marsh said, via Chicago State of Mind Sports.
Jul 12, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) warms up before a WNBA game against the Minnesota Lynx at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Rookie forward Maddy Westbeld has begun playing more in July, appearing in each of the team’s three games and averaging seven minutes per contest. Westbeld was selected 16th overall by the Chicago Sky in the draft and was not subbed into four straight contests before this. She has averaged 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in her 6.7 minutes per game for her 9 games. In college, she averaged 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds for NotreDame, so the talent is there. It remains to be seen if she has acclimated to the WNBA.
She has seen two games off late where she has played 10+ minutes. Westbeld hasn’t played a significant amount to put her firmly as a substitute for Reese, but the coach has begun trusting the rookie more than earlier. Reese accounts for more than a third of Sky’s rebounds, which makes it difficult to sustain without her on the court. As of now, Westbeld remains the only player comparable to Reese’s frame. She is still averaging 31.3 minutes per game, which is among the top 20 in the league, but the team will certainly monitor her situation going forward.
As the Sky gear up for a critical showdown with the Lynx, Angel Reese remains the heart of their campaign, on the stat sheet, in the locker room, and now on the cover of NBA 2K26. Her recent dominance has been undeniable, but the team knows they need to balance her brilliance with long-term sustainability.
With rookie Maddy Westbeld starting to earn more minutes, the coaching staff is slowly building a safety net to manage Reese’s workload. Whether that’s enough to end their losing skid and flip the narrative remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, if the Sky are going to turn their season around, it will start and end with Angel Reese leading the charge.
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