Chicago Sky GM Breaks Silence On Angel Reese; Says Team Needs 'More Production' From The WNBA Star

Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky are off to a disheartening start to their WNBA season, and following their most recent loss to the New York Liberty, many are wondering what might be next for the team, which began the year with playoff aspirations.

During an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca opened up to the publication about his team's performance and shared his thoughts on how Angel Reese could contribute more to their team's goals.

After falling to 2-6 on the season following a loss against the New York Liberty, Pagliocca said the Sky must make improvements "everywhere" to be serious competitors. He also commented on how his team has performed thus far, following several losses of 20 or more points to teams like the Indiana Fever.

“It’s a long season and there’s a lot of games left, but this is unexpected, and I’ve been very disappointed,” he said. “We had pretty big, significant expectations for this season. That’s why I made the moves I made," he added, referring to signing veteran players like Courtney Vandersloot and Kia Nurse.

Pagliocca also touched on his franchise player, Reese, 23, who's been under fire this season for her shooting efficiency, currently at 36% from inside the arc.

Reese, who finished her rookie season averaging a double-double and leading the league in rebounds, has taken on a new role on the hardwood this year, often playing beyond the perimeter rather than in the paint, a transition that has proven to be a learning curve for her and the Sky.

“That’s something that has yet to come together, but it’s a necessity for us to win,” Pagliocca said. “She’s had some great games, and she’s had some games like everybody else that haven’t been her best. But she’s our best chance at versatility on this roster. We need more production out of her, but we need her to help us in other ways, too."

On X, Sky fans pushed back at Pagliocca for his comments, questioning how he could place blame on Reese, who, by some metrics, has performed the best on her team during several games this season.

"Wasn't Angel the player of the game [three times]?" someone asked. "I'm confused. She was the only one in double digits."

Another user shared a similar thought, adding, "How does Jeff have big expectations for a year when he replaces the entire coaching staff and most of the roster, again? All this while heading into an offseason where the entire league is a [free agent]?"

A third user posted their thoughts as well, this time slamming the Sky's head coach, Tyler Marsh, for seemingly having "no answer" on how to get Reese "going offensively."

"Chicago Sky's organization is a dumpster fire," they finished.

The Sky GM also spoke about Reese as a person and an athlete, saying she has "been putting the time in" before discussing how essential she is to the Sky's locker room.

"She’s been a great teammate. She knows we need to use her in a variety of ways. We’re still trying to pinpoint the most advantageous part of that," he said.

Reese's veteran teammate, Ariel Atkins, who won an Olympic Gold Medal and a WNBA championship, echoed a similar sentiment during the Sky's post-game conference earlier this week.

After a reporter asked Reese a non-basketball-related question, Atkins interjected to defend her teammate, asking the media to "respect" what Reese has to go through as a high-profile athlete.

"I'm sorry, can I? Can I say something?" Atkins said. "This is a 23-year-old kid. And the amount of crap that she gets on a day to day, she still shows up. So whatever questions y'all got, about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. But all the other nonsense, it's irrelevant."

She continued, "This is a 23-year-old kid who handles herself with grace... She knows who she is, and we ain't gonna break her down for that. So whatever other questions y'all got, I'm hoping it's just about basketball, maybe a box score question. But the kid's crown is heavy, like respect that."

After thanking Atkins for her powerful defense, Reese told the media that she was aware of the trouble she's been facing on the court.

"I just focus on basketball. I come into work every day and work. I don't complain, I don't care about anything else. I have bad days; I haven't been playing well at all," she said. "I come in every day and try and be better than the last. I know my teammates trust me; I know they have my back."

"Everything else is everything else," she added. "I'm just here to come to work every day... and be able to enjoy my job."

The Chicago Sky's next matchup is against the Atlanta Dream on Friday, June 13, at 7:30 PM EST.