Angel Reese, one of the WNBA’s most prominent young players, has confirmed that she will return to the Chicago Sky for the 2026 season, despite a tumultuous end to her previous year on the court.
Reese — speaking from USA Basketball training camp in December of 2025 — said that she plans to remain with the Sky because she is contractually obligated to through 2026. “I’m under contract, so yes, I plan on returning to the Sky,” she told reporters, adding that she continues to have conversations with Head Coach Tyler Marsh and General Manager Jeff Pagliocca about her place within the organization.
The forward’s future with the Sky had been the subject of heavy speculation after the 2025 season ended amid organization friction. Reese missed games late in the season due to a back injury and a sequence of disciplinary actions: she was suspended for the first half of a game after making comments that her peers described as “detrimental to the team,” and also served a mandatory league suspension for accumulating eight technical fouls.
Those comments — which were part of a September interview in which Reese openly questioned aspects of the team’s competitiveness and direction — drew criticism from the organization and were followed by a half-game suspension.
Reese’s 2025 season was statistically strong. According to league records, she finished the year leading the WNBA in rebounds per game for a second consecutive season and averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
However, her absence from the roster late in the season and the public nature of her comments about team direction had fueled debate about her long-term fit in Chicago. During exit coverage, multiple reports noted that Reese and other key players did not participate in traditional exit interviews with team leadership, an unusual step that further raised questions about locker room dynamics.
Reese was selected by the Sky with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and quickly became a headline piece for the franchise. Her impact on the court, including consecutive rebounding titles, has established her as one of the league’s premier forwards.
Chicago’s 2025 season was difficult overall. The team struggled to string together consistent success and finished with one of the league’s weaker records, missing the playoffs. The organization made high-profile roster changes heading into the season, but injuries and uneven performance undercut those efforts.
Reese’s return comes at a pivotal moment for the Sky, who are navigating a rebuilding phase and going to attract complementary talent around their young core. Her confirmation that she will remain with the team under contract provides a degree of stability as the franchise approaches the 2026 season, which begins in May.
While her comments last year created tension, Reese’s willingness to publicly commit to Chicago suggests a mutual interest in moving forward together. How that relationship develops, and whether it leads to on-court success, will be one of the key storylines for the Sky as they prepare for another season in a competitive Eastern Conference.