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Alexa Philipou
After a stress of the weather between Chicago sky And franchise player Angel ReeseGeneral Manager Jeff Paglioca said on Friday that “until I listen differently, the direction we are going in is that he is on a roster.”
In the 2024 draft, the number 7 pick reese was suspended for half Sunday after commenting at the Chicago Tribune that the franchise considered “harmful to the team” – an organizational decision that came from above according to coach Tyler Marsh.
Reese did not take the court for Akash after the announcement, and the team listed him as dealing with a back injury for their last three matches, the matter of concern that the relationship between the franchise and the star was fragmented – perhaps beyond the repair.
“Angel is an ascending young talent in this league, two very good weather in Chicago,” Pagliokka said on Friday. “Obviously what we did by what we did. I think we closed the chapter on him. He spoke to his colleagues, he spoke publicly. We went ahead as a team. He is a special player. He is a special player. And I have a good conversation with Angel Daily, daily with his team. He is constantly, and he is productive.”
The two-time all-star publicly and the team privately apologized, and the organization has said since last week that it wants to put the incident behind it.
Akash went 1–13 in this season without a reescle, which led the league in rebounds per game (12.6) and double-dabbles (23), while scoring (14.7 PPG) and aid (3.7) pace the team.
Desperate on the reesne situation, more widely boiled at the conclusion of the team’s season about the direction of the franchise, in which some fans wearing the signs of “free angel” and “selling the team” and started chanting some “Fire Jeff” at a point.
In the last two years, Akash has fought a powerful struggle, going from 13–27 in 2024 and is firing the then head coach Teresa Weather Spoon after just one season. But 2025 did not eliminate any better, tied for the worst record at 10–34 in the league with Chicago.
The roots of some of the dissatisfaction are moving forward, as the sky, 2021 WNBA champions, have seen many star players leaving their franchise for years and are usually considered behind others when talking about resources and investment.
Reese, while relaying similar feelings in the above tribune article, said that she is “not settling for the same S — we did this year” and adding that team “team”[has] To achieve great players “it can consider Offsen or she may consider moving beyond it.
Paglooka said that the mantras were “difficult to hear”, but reiterated that he is committed to correcting things and is more committed to resources than previous years.
“I appreciate that we have emotional fans who want to see winning,” said Paglooka. “We also feel the same. And I know I have full support from ownership. We have a lot of conversation. There is a lot of mutual respect. I have all the honors in the world for the toiler. I think he is a boy for a job.”
Akash dealt with a rash of injuries this year, which reduced his roof, perhaps no one in the form of a dying guard disadvantage Kurtney wandershaloot Seven games in the season for an ACL tear.
He said that Pagliaka has expected a vendor sms, who is his leading free agent signed by this offsen, will return in 2026: “If she is healthy, she is going to play basketball here,” she said.
In the Tribune article, Reese expressed concern over the position of the point guard of the sky, saying, “We can’t trust courtney [Vandersloot] to come back [from an ACL tear] At that age that he is at [36]I know that he will be a great property for us, but we cannot trust him. We need someone, perhaps a little shorter with some experience, someone who is playing the game and is ready to compete for a championship and has done before. ,
Paglioca said that the team knows that it cannot depend on each game to play on the vendorslut, but still “there is a lot of confidence in the organization.”
Paglioca said, “No one is taking him more seriously than that.” “I think she has been removed more than ever to prove the world wrong and what she is capable of doing. … She is so part of this city with her ruthlessness and how she competes and how she takes herself, so it is very important for the organization.”
Paglooka said that while 2025 was one step ahead in building a better culture, he needs to “improve the roster” because Chicago WNBA wants to return to be a contenders on the WNBA platform. There are only four players under the contract in the sky – two of their crooks, rees and Kamila cardso – For 2026, because most of the league giants are on ending deals in anticipation of a new CBA.
