The Chicago Sky had a tough one this season, and things got worse when they fell 80-66 to the Las Vegas Aces. For the windy city, star forward Angel Reese, serving a first-half suspension, didn’t play at all due to a nagging back injury.
The loss marked Chicago’s sixth in their last seven games, leaving them at 10-32, second-worst in the WNBA, with only the Dallas Wings (9-34) below them. With no playoff hopes left, the Sky are limping to the finish line, and Reese’s latest setback only adds to their troubles.
Angel Reese’s Back Injury Adds To Sky’s Troubles
For those who’ve been living under a rock, the Chi Barbie’s suspension came from a Chicago Tribune interview where she criticized the team’s direction and roster. The star rookie also questioned the reliance on veteran Courtney Vandersloot, who’s recovering from an ACL tear, and urged major free-agency moves.
The Sky didn’t take kindly to her public remarks, benching her for the first half against the Aces. Then, just before the second half, they ruled her out entirely due to back discomfort she reported during pregame warmups, despite not being on the injury report earlier.
Angel Reese will not be taking the court against the Aces despite her suspension being up.
— Callie Fin (@CallieJLaw) September 8, 2025
Sky PR announced at halftime that she's been ruled out, citing her back.
Additionally, Coach Tyler Marsh explained they chose caution after consulting the medical staff. While Marsh earlier hailed Reese’s grit, this time again, he seemed a little too thoughtful.
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“We’ve got to gauge it day by day. I know Angel wants to be out there, so we’ll continue working with her and our medical team to see what the best method of approach is moving forward,” Marsh said to the media.
This isn’t Reese’s first brush with her back issue. She missed 10 games earlier this season after the All-Star break in July, with the Sky going 1-9 in that stretch. She also sat out Friday’s game against the Indiana Fever after picking up her eighth technical foul of the season in a win over the Connecticut Sun, triggering an automatic one-game league suspension.
Chicago Sky Struggled In Angel Reese’s Absence
While she’s going through a tough stretch in her personal career, AR5 is still making strides. Despite these setbacks, Reese has been a bright spot for Chicago when healthy. She is averaging 14.7 points and a league-leading 12.6 rebounds per game, earning her second straight All-Star nod.
However, the Aces, powered by A’ja Wilson’s 31 points and 11 rebounds, didn’t need much to cruise to their 14th straight win, extending their franchise-record streak. For the Sky, Rachel Banham and Michaela Onyenwere led with 12 points each, while Kamilla Cardoso grabbed 15 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough.
Indeed, with two games left, Chicago’s focus may shift to securing a top pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, especially if Reese’s injury lingers.