Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky standout and one of the most prominent figures in the WNBA today, has made a forceful call to action, not just to her own team but to the league as a whole. Reese has been vocal in recent weeks about her dissatisfaction with the current environment in women’s professional basketball, particularly as discussions over a new collective bargaining agreement continue without resolution.
Reese has emerged as one of the top performers in the WNBA since entering the league in 2024, producing exceptional numbers in scoring and rebounding year after year. Yet despite her individual success, the Sky have struggled as a franchise. Chicago has won only a fraction of its games over the past two seasons, and this lack of sustained team success has become a central point in Reese’s public remarks.
According to The Spun, she was direct about what needs to change if the Sky, and by extension the league, are going to evolve into a more competitive environment city by city. “I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese said. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a nonnegotiable for me.” Reese went further, saying she wants to compete with the WNBA’s top talent and is committed to doing what she can this offseason to bring that level of ability to Chicago.
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Reese Wants Improvements For The Players
Her comments, though aimed at her team’s front office and roster decisions, also took place against a much larger backdrop in the league. The WNBA and its players’ union have been in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, and those conversations have dragged on with no finalized deal. Reese acknowledged in recent interviews the urgency of these talks, not just for her own future but for the next generation of players entering the league.
She highlighted disparities between men’s and women’s professional basketball, suggesting that many things players deserve aren’t yet being fully realized. “There’s nothing that we shouldn’t get,” she said when asked about the pay gap and compensation issues facing women in the sport.
This stance on league-wide conditions follows a broader shift among WNBA players, who have increasingly used their platforms to advocate for improvements in pay, benefits, marketing, and revenue sharing. Some have even hinted that work stoppages or strikes could be considered if the league doesn’t meet players’ demands during negotiations. Reese herself has echoed this sentiment, suggesting that sitting out games might become an option if negotiations fail to produce a satisfactory outcome.
Reese’s outspoken nature isn’t limited to league finances or team construction. She has also been involved in debates about how the game is officiated and how players are treated, ticking off some players in the process. But her recent comments about the league and her franchise came at a particularly sensitive time for the Sky. They’ve struggled to attract high-level free agents in recent offseasons, and top-tier talent who could alter the competitive balance has been hesitant to join struggling teams.
Despite the tension, Reese, who has branched out to modeling, has expressed her intention to remain with Chicago, at least in the near term. She confirmed in December that she plans to stick with the Sky, even as she pushes for changes. But she also hinted that her loyalty has limits, stressing that she would consider other options if the franchise doesn’t demonstrate commitment to building a winning roster and addressing the concerns she and other players have raised.
Published: Feb 5, 2026 02:00 pm