Angel Reese issues apology after brutally criticizing Hailey Van Lith and other Chicago Sky teammates
Angel Reese has issued an apology after previous comments made criticising the Chicago Sky came to light.
The 23-year-old cast her future with the Sky into doubt after she voiced her frustrations with the team following a woeful 2025 season, in which - to date - they have racked up just 10 wins from 40 outings.
Having sat down for an interview with the Chicago Tribune's Julie Poe recently, the two-time WNBA All-Star hinted at the possibility of leaving the team if they cannot get things back on track.
“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want,” Reese said. “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me.
"But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”
According to Front Office Sports, Reese reportedly said she doesn’t believe her teammates, Rachel Banham or Hailey Van Lith, are capable of leading a playoff team.
MORE FROM THE WNBA
She also questioned whether veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot was capable of returning to form “at the age she’s at” after tearing her ACL.
Reese was also quoted multiple times as saying, “we need great players,” and said she wants head coach Tyler Marsh to coach the team harder.
Speaking to the media after Wednesday's 88-64 victory over the Connecticut Sun, Reese ensured she both clarified and apologised for her controversial, citing that her comments were 'misconstrued', while also admitting that she is 'frustrated' with herself.
"I don't think I am frustrated [with the team]. I probably am frustrated at myself right now," she said. "I think the language is taken out of context and I really didn't intentionally mean to put that on my teammates because they've been through this with me throughout the whole year.
Most read in Basketball
"They've busted their a** just like how I've busted my a**. They've showed up for me through thick and thin and in the locker room when nobody could see anything.
"So, I want to apologize to my teammates, which I already have, about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said.
"I just have to be better with my language because I know it's not the message, it's the messenger and understanding that what I say can be taken any kind of way, so I have to really be better and grow from this."
Stepping up and publicly taking accountability for her actions did not go unnoticed by the fans, with many commending her for her maturity.
"Respect for taking accountability and addressing team dynamics. Leadership means owning your moments of frustration 💪," one user posted on X (formerly Twitter).
"She's taking accountability, that's admirable," another wrote.
Reese's apology is notable, but let's remember: only a handful of players in NCAA history have dealt with such public scrutiny this early in their careers," a third fan wrote before posing the question, "Are her frustrations a sign of pressure or just part of the growth process?"
It is true the pressure has been on Reese from back in her LSU days when she helped the team to win the NCAA National Championship in 2023, with her confidence in her ability and her trash-talk towards opponents being viewed, by some, to be stepping over the line.
This saw her portrayed by few to be college basketball's villain, something which has somewhat followed her to the pros.
From signing a signature shoe deal with Reebok, to being the most-followed WNBA star on Instagram, and on to making the cover of the video game franchise NBA 2K26, Reese continues to rise up.
And in typical Angel Reese fashion, she has never refrained from letting her on-court play and off-court ventures do the talking.
Sky have had a disappointing season
It is no secret that the Sky have endured a very tough - even disastrous - campaign, with first-year head coach Marsh having lost his composure on the sidelines on a few occasions, one of which even led to him being ejected.
But with Chi-Town having missed out on making the playoffs once again, 2024 Rookie of the Year Reese runner-up is growing impatient, and wants to put herself in the best position possible to compete for a WNBA championship.
Following the release of her interview with the Chicago Tribune, and amid all the outside noise generated from the backlash of it, Reese stepped up in a way that only she knows how - to dominate on the court.
Having registered yet another double-double - her 23rd of the season - in what has been a historic individual campaign for the former LSU standout, scoring a team-high 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four steals, Reese led the Sky to a thumping 88-64 victory over the Sun.
Perhaps the one dampener of the Sky notching just their 10th victory of 2025 on Wednesday was that Reese did pick up her eighth technical foul of the season.
Read More on talkSPORT
As a result, she is suspended for Chicago's trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse where they will face a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever who are still very much in the race to reach the post-season.
Stay up to date with the latest from the WNBA across all platforms - follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for news, exclusive interviews and more.