The WNBA season has not gone as anticipated for the Chicago Sky. There are a number of causes for that, however Angel Reese is an enormous one.
Reese, the seventh decide within the 2024 WNBA draft, is a lightning rod. She’s tried to check her stardom to Caitlin Clark, but the product on the court docket hasn’t matched up.
Of their assembly earlier this season, the Iowa legend recorded a triple-double, wanting like an MVP candidate. Reese, however, has struggled from the bounce in 2025, at the very least offensively.
As a rookie, Reese averaged a double-double with 13.6 factors and 13.1 rebounds per sport. She solely shot 39 p.c from the sector, however there was hope that share would considerably enhance this season.
It hasn’t.
Reese is bringing down 12.6 rebounds per sport. But, her scoring common has dipped to 9.3. What’s even worse is that her field-goal share is 30.9 p.c, together with a dismal 30.8 p.c on two-point makes an attempt.
That two-point share is 10 p.c decrease than final season. Reese is taking fewer photographs and taking part in fewer minutes. Extremely, the previous LSU star is averaging 5.6 offensive rebounds per sport, however she’s recognized for occasionally rebounding her misses.
Reese is not Chicago’s solely drawback, although.
The Sky have been anticipated to contend for the WNBA playoffs, and buying and selling for a few WNBA All-Stars — Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins — signaled the group’s perception that it may take the following step.
Reese and Kamilla Cardoso have been an enormous a part of that considering. Cardoso, the No. 3 total decide within the 2024 WNBA draft, has been higher than Reese, however she hasn’t taken a second-year leap both.
The 6-foot-7 heart has upped her scoring common by some extent (9.8 to 10.9), however the capturing share has dropped barely with extra quantity (52.1 to 50.8). Her minutes are down, alongside together with her blocks and rebounds (1.4 to 0.7 and seven.9 to six.1, respectively).
Reese and Cardoso have been anticipated to be a dominant tandem. As a substitute, they’ve regressed in 2025.
The outcomes do not lie. Neither do the superior stats. Chicago has the Eleventh-best file (2-5) out of 13 groups, however is twelfth in level differential (-12.7) and ranks twelfth in offensive (97.4) and defensive score (113.4).
Atkins has performed nicely. She’s main Chicago in scoring (13.7 ppg) and capturing 40 p.c from three-point vary. The five-time All-WNBA defender hasn’t helped Chicago’s protection, although.
The offense took a significant hit over the weekend, as Vandersloot is out for the season with a torn ACL. She was the Sky’s greatest playmaker (5.3 assists) and the third-leading scorer.
Hailey Van Lith is more likely to see extra minutes. She performed a career-high 26 minutes on Saturday, scoring seven factors. She might give the Sky a much-needed spark.
Up subsequent are the New York Liberty on Tuesday, the defending WNBA champions. New York is thrashing groups by a median of 19 factors, so issues may go from unhealthy to worse for Chicago.
Reese is not the one drawback. However she hasn’t performed like an answer both.
The LSU product is an elite rebounder, but when she desires to be seen in the identical mild as Clark, her sport must develop.
Reese has been one of many worst offensive gamers within the WNBA, and till that adjustments, Chicago can be caught within the cellar.
