July 29, 2025. Does that date sound familiar? For Angel Reese and Chicago Sky fans, it sure does. That was the last time Reese suited up for the team. Since then, five games have gone by without the star forward on the court, and questions are starting to swirl about whether she’ll even return this season. One analyst, in particular, isn’t holding back on questioning the Chicago Sky’s statements.
The last time Reese was on the court, she went on to record her 11th consecutive double-double in the game by scoring 22 points and 13 rebounds in a tough loss to the Mystics. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At times, she was clearly getting bullied in the paint – something you don’t see often when it comes to the Bayou Barbie. The most notable moment came during a tussle with Kiki Iriafen that sent Reese crashing to the floor, followed by Coach Marsh picking up a technical for protesting the no-call on Iriafen.
Remember, this was a version of Reese who had missed 2 of their last 3 games since the All-Star break due to a leg and back injury. So it was clear that she wasn’t really 100%. “Just trying to fight through contact as much as I can. It was ugly, very ugly for me. I do as much as I can for my teammates because I know they need me out there,” Reese admitted after the game. That night would end up being the last time she suited up for Chicago as she injured her back again.
Now, the team has maintained that Reese is day-to-day and that just isn’t sitting well with Rachel DeMita. On the latest episode of Courtside Club, she didn’t hold back: “Angel Reese is obviously out with a back injury. She’s considered day-to-day, but she didn’t even travel with the team for the Indiana Fever game. So if she’s not even traveling with the team, I don’t know how she could be considered day-to-day. There might be something else going on. She still might be in a lot of pain. I don’t even know if we’re going to see Angel Reese back on the court with how horrible the Chicago Sky are doing this season.”
Of course, you are going to have doubts when a player decides not to even travel with the team during their games. Just look at Caitlin Clark, for instance. She’s only played 13 games this season, yet that hasn’t stopped her from being on the sidelines, cheering her teammates on every chance she gets. Yes, Coach Marsh did explain the whole situation by saying, “I think she’s progressing. She’s just, again, just stepping away to focus on that rehab. Again, as we get more information in terms of [a] concrete timeline, we’ll communicate that. But as of now, it will continue to be day-to-day.” Still, the uncertainty around her return refuses to go away.
May 31, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts to an official during the first half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
It’s not that anyone’s suggesting the Sky and Reese are hiding a major injury. The reality is that with an 8-23 record and sitting 11th in the league, Chicago has no real shot at the playoffs. So, why risk the Bayou Barbie now? Better to let her heal up and come back stronger next season, as DeMita highlighted: They’re clearly not going to make playoffs, so I don’t even know if they will bring her back for the rest of the season.
If that’s how her season wraps up, it would be a bittersweet ending to what’s been a remarkable resurgence for the Bayou Barbie. Despite all the hurdles thrown her way, she’s managed to make this year one to remember on a personal level!
A season to remember for Angel Reese
Angel Reese’s sophomore campaign in the WNBA got off to a rocky start. Through her first 6 games, 44 of her 61 field goal attempts came from the restricted area, but she converted just 31.8% of them, per CBS Sports. That was the lowest among the top 10 players taking at least five shots in that zone, despite her leading the league with 7.3 attempts per game inside. The early-season slump made her an easy target for trolls and critics. But to her credit, Reese has flipped the script completely!
According to journalist Karli Bell’s July 15 tweet, Reese’s finishing around the rim skyrocketed over the past month. She was converting 56.5% of her shots from inside 5 feet before her injury. That’s a huge jump from where she started. Combine that with a league-best 17 double-doubles and an assist bump from 1.9 to 3.7 per game, and it’s clear why this has been a season to remember for the Bayou Barbie.
It’s really unfortunate to see her season “potentially” end this way if we are to believe DeMita’s words. It still remains to be seen if Reese does make a comeback this season. What are your thoughts on this? Do you see Reese making a comeback this season, or is her season officially done?
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