Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has always been one to tell it like it is.
So it should come as no surprise that during an interview with the Chicago Tribune early Wednesday morning, the 23-year-old forward may have said some things that ruffled some feathers — most notably calling out first-year head coach Tyler Marsh for not playing a dynamic style of basketball and not coaching players hard enough, and general manager Jeff Pagliocca for not building a championship-caliber team.
“Starting at the top — we’ve got to find an identity of what we’re going to be next year and then roll with the punches of what we can get,” Reese said of the team’s current culture.
“We need great players, and I don’t know what that will attract that,” she continued. “… But the priority is being able to convince (free agents) that this is an organization that is going in the right direction. Honestly, it would be a leap of faith for a great, great player to come here and show that this is something that they want to be a part of and we can bring that championship mentality.”
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Reese also seemingly took a shot at 36-year-old teammate Courtney Vandersloot, who she boldly called out for being too old while simultaneously calling for the Sky front office to replace her with a younger player hungry to win a title.
“We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before,” Reese declared.
Whether Reese’s teammates read the Chicago Tribune report firsthand or were told about by someone else, it’s clear they’re aware of the disparaging remarks Reese made about the team.
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In fact, Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports reported on Wednesday night that the team is expected to call a meeting in which they plan to personally air their grievances with what Reese said.
“Multiple league sources told FOS the entire team has seen Reese’s comments and that teammates are unhappy with the direct attacks,” Costabile wrote. “A team meeting is planned at which players are expected to address Reese directly.”
Marsh even told reporters after Wednesday’s 88-64 win over the Connecticut Sun—a game that Reese recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four steals—that the matter “is being addressed in-house.”
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Reese appeared apologetic after the game, seemingly taking accountability for her remarks and clarifying it wasn’t her intention to throw anyone under the bus.
“I probably am frustrated with myself right now,” Reese stated, via Bleacher Report. “… I really didn’t mean to intentionally put down my teammates because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year.
“They busted their [expletive] just like I busted my [expletive], they’ve showed up for me through thick and thin…so I would apologize to my teammates, which I already have about the article, how it was misconstrued with what was said and I just have to be better with my language.”
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