The Chicago Sky’s season came to a close Thursday night with second-year player Angel Reese missing her fourth consecutive game.
Reese was suspended for the first half of the first missed game because of comments made during a league-mandated media session. A “coach’s decision” was said to be the reason for the second missed game and the last two missed contests were the result of a back injury, according to the injury report.
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Reese shared her frustration with the team last week, telling the Chicago Tribune that she “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if the team didn’t look to improve.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca told reporters during the team’s exit interviews on Friday that the team has moved on from the situation, and Reese spoke to her teammates about her comments.
Pagliocca added that he has daily conversations with Reese and the rest of the team.
“They’re constant, and they’re productive, and until I hear differently, that’s the direction we’re gonna move in, is that she’s on the roster,” Pagliocca said when asked about Reese’s long-term future with the Sky.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese drives around South Carolina’s Laeticia Amihere in the second half at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 12, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese drives around South Carolina’s Laeticia Amihere in the second half at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 12, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Purdue’s Rickie Woltman dribbles under the net against Maryland’s Angel Reese during the fourth quarter of an NCAA women’s basketball game on Feb. 25, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Purdue’s Nyagoa Gony goes up for a shot against Maryland’s Angel Reese during the second quarter of an NCAA women’s basketball game on Feb. 25, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Maryland Terrapins head coach Brenda Frese and Angel Reese hug after their game against Northwestern at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2021.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Maryland’s Angel Reese react to a call during a Big Ten conference game on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Maryland’s Angel Reese flexes during an NCAA Big Ten conference game against Caitlin Clark and Iowa on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Maryland’s Angel Reese celebrates after forcing a turnover against Iowa’s Caitlin Clark during a Big Ten game on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Maryland’s Angel Reese and teammates celebrate after a Big Ten game against Iowa on Feb. 14, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Maryland Terrapins forward Angel Reese after hitting a big shot on March 4, 2022, during the women’s Big Ten tournament action from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana won 62-51.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Angel Reese takes a shot as LSU women’s basketball takes on the Auburn Tigers at the Marovich Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Jan. 15, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese looks on before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Jan. 30, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese reacts to a play against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Feb. 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese and South Carolina Gamecocks forward Victaria Saxton tip-off in the first half at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 12, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese looks on against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 19, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey gives directions to forward Angel Reese against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 19, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU forward Angel Reese pauses at the free throw line against Utah during the fourth quarter in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 24, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese cuts the net to celebrate the team’s win over the Miami Hurricanes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese hugs head coach Kim Mulkey and celebrates their win over the Miami Hurricanes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU forward Angel Reese poses for a photo with the NCAA trophy after winning the Elite Eight round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU forward Angel Reese holds the NCAA trophy after winning the Elite Eight round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU forward Angel Reese keeps the ball from Miami forward Lola Pendande and Miami guard Jasmine Roberts during the Elite Eight round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU women’s basketball players LaDazhia Williams, Angel Reese, Alexis Morris and Kateri Poole wait to be introduced before Elite Eight round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU forward Angel Reese, or the “Bayou Barbie,” puts on her crown while being introduced before the Elite Eight round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese looks as head coach Kim Mulkey reacts as they speak to members of the media at American Airlines Center on March 30, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese reacts in the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first half in semifinals of the women’s Final Four of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson celebrates with forward Angel Reese after defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies in semifinals of the women’s Final Four of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese celebrates with her team after defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies in semifinals of the women’s Final Four of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament at American Airlines Center on March 31, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese leaps into the air with a teammate prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the final round of the women’s basketball Final Four NCAA tournament at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese and Iowa Hawkeyes forward Monika Czinano battle for the opening tip in the first half during the Final Four championship game in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark defends against LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese in the first half during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Molly Davis drives to the basket against LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese in the second half during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey talks with forward Angel Reese during a stop in play against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese reacts against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second half during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese, middle, reacts after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese reacts while cutting down a piece of the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese celebrates after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese speaks to members of the media after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese gestures and points to her ring finger during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese gestures to Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark after the game in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship game at the American Airlines Center on April 2, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU’s Angel Reese and Emily Ward present President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden jerseys honoring LSU’s 2023 national championship as they visit the White House with LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey on May 26, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU basketball player Angel Reese arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
NCAA women’s basketball national champion Angel Reese prepares to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 18, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese smiles after receiving her 1,000th rebound game ball before a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Nov. 30, 2023.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese reacts after a score against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Jan. 25, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese takes a photo for senior night with former LSU player and NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey and Reese’s mother, Angel Webb, against the Kentucky Wildcats at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 3, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese places the LSU nameplate on the Sweet 16 bracket after defeating Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 24, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Angel Reese walks the red carpet before the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on Apr. 15, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Angel Reese poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after she is selected with the No. 7 overall pick to the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 15, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Angel Reese leaves The Mark Hotel for the Met Gala, the annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York on May 6, 2024. The 2024 theme for the gala was “The Garden of Time.”
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese reacts during the first quarter against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on May 15, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese shoots during the second half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on May 15, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese arrives for a WNBA game against the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena on June 4, 2024.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese shake hands before the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2025.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark steals the ball from Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2025.
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Angel Reese: WNBA star, LSU national champion, ‘Bayou Barbie’ and Caitlin Clark rival
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese drives to the basket against Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson during the first half at Wintrust Arena on Aug 25, 2025.
Reese was one of three players who did not speak to the media on Friday. It remains unknown if those players will speak in the coming days, according to a message from the team’s media relations department.
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Pagliocca praised Reese and the development he saw from the second-year player despite her missing 14 games this season.
“We saw so much new and so much good out of her compared to last year,” Pagliocca said. “She was able to build on the success she had. We saw her as a facilitator, we saw her playing in space, we saw her put the ball on the floor.”
Reese averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds in 30 games this season. But the Sky finished the season with a 10-34 record, losing eight of their last nine games.
Some fans were seen in a video chanting “fire Jeff (Pagliocca)” during the season finale on Friday. Other fans were seen with signs and a shirt that said “free Angel.”
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“It’s hard to hear, but, you know, I’m also appreciative that we have passionate fans that want to see winning,” Pagliocca said. “We feel the same, and I know I have full support from ownership. We have great conversations. There’s a lot of mutual respect there.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angel Reese future with Chicago Sky uncertain entering offseason
