It’s been a brutal 2025 season for the contending teams. And even with the Chicago Sky’s playoff hopes long gone, along with the Dallas Wings, they’ve got a chance to play kingmaker in the WNBA postseason race.
Recently, the Sky faced the Las Vegas Aces at Wintrust Arena on Monday. With no chance whatsoever for themselves, they could delay a playoff celebration for one of the league’s heavyweights. Despite their 9-27 record, tied for 11th in the 13-team WNBA, Chicago, led by star forward Angel Reese, is in a unique spot to mess with their rivals’ destinies as the season winds down.
Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky Could Play A Spoiler Role
The Sky’s year has been rough, no doubt. Under first-year head coach Tyler Marsh, they’ve struggled with injuries and inconsistency. The Windy City missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Reese herself has battled a nagging back injury, missing seven straight games before returning last week to drop 19 points against Seattle and 21 against the New York Liberty. Though Reese had Sky’s motivation clear even after the playoff upset.
In Saturday’s loss to Connecticut, she notched her 19th double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Reese surpassed Tina Charles for the most double-doubles in a player’s first two WNBA seasons. That’s the kind of grit that makes Chicago dangerous, even if they’re out of the postseason picture.
Monday's WNBA playoff clinching scenarios:
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) August 25, 2025
With a win tonight at Chicago, the Las Vegas Aces would become the second team to clinch a spot in the playoffs, per the WNBA.
Though Monday’s matchup against the Aces was a big deal. Las Vegas was riding on a 10-game winning streak and a 10-9 road record, and clinched a playoff spot with a win. Additionally, it marked their seventh straight postseason appearance, a streak dating back to 2019.
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Additionally, A’ja Wilson, fresh off a 36-point, 13-rebound masterpiece against the Mystics, was the one to watch, but Reese and the Sky were ready to play spoiler.
Chicago Sky Could Make It Difficult For Playoff Hopeful Teams
With seven games left, Chicago’s remaining schedule includes clashes against the Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and the Sun. In those coming matches, Chicago could very well shake up the standings. And it would hit teams hard, especially on the playoff bubble.
🚨 WNBA 🏀
— Sportify (@Sportify9095) August 26, 2025
The Las Vegas Aces went 11 for 11 and a win-loss of 11-3 since the All-star break after a narrow victory over the Chicago Sky. This win also secured their playoff qualification. Jackie Young tallied 22 points and 7 assists, while A’ja Wilson tallied 18 points and 9… pic.twitter.com/UxeACuNNHN
For example, the Valkyries, at 19-18, are fighting for the sixth seed, while the Sparks are pushed to the ninth spot. A Sky upset could tip the scales, and Reese, averaging 14.3 points and a league-leading 12.4 rebounds per game, is the kind of player who can make it happen.
This role as spoiler is bittersweet for Chicago. They’re rebuilding after a 13-27 finish last year, and Marsh is focused on developing young talent like Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. But there’s pride in impacting the playoff race.