Angel Reese Blasts Sky Teammates in Unfiltered Take on Loss Against Mercury

The Chicago Sky looked like they were ready to flip the script early on. They stormed out to a 22–17 lead in the first quarter and, for a moment, it seemed like this could finally be the night they got another win amid a string of losses. Angel Reese set the tone on both ends, delivering one of her best performances yet with 15 points, a season-high 20 rebounds, plus four assists and two blocks. It was her fourth career game with 20 or more rebounds, a milestone that pushed her past her mentor, Lisa Leslie, on the all-time list. But with an 83–79 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Reese was clearly not enough. 

In the post-game conference, when asked what went wrong after such a strong start, Reese didn’t hold back. “I think sometimes we get a little comfortable,” she said. “We’re not used to starting games like that, and even in that first timeout, I told the team, ‘That’s a great start, but we have to keep doing it.’ We’ve shown we can compete, we’ve beaten two of the top teams in this league. So it’s about doing that every single possession. Good teams don’t lay down. This is a playoff team, and that’s where we want to be. We can’t lay down, we can’t get comfortable no matter what. Yeah, we were up, I think 17–8 at one point, and we got comfortable. When you get comfortable with a good team, they’ll bust your ass.”

Reese’s words weren’t just talk; the numbers backed her up. Chicago coughed up 21 turnovers, more than double Phoenix’s nine, and those mistakes turned into 20 points for the Mercury. While the Sky shot better from deep (50% to 27.3%) and even held a higher overall field-goal percentage (44.6% to 40.8%), Phoenix owned the hustle game. They racked up 17 steals, 11 blocks, and 46 points in the paint— exactly the kind of punishment Reese warned about when she said good teams don’t lay down. But it was a game Chicago could have closed out. 

They had the rebounding edge at 38–34, and Reese had help: Kamilla Cardoso chipped in 15 points and seven boards, while Kia Nurse led the bench with 17 points. But the Sky lost focus, fell behind by 10 in the third quarter, and even after clawing back to tie it at 71 with three minutes left, they couldn’t finish the job. What makes Reese’s critique sting even more is how familiar this storyline feels.

What makes Reese’s critique sting even more is how familiar this storyline feels. Just last month, on July 7, the Sky fell 80–75 to the Lynx after leading 24–10 in the first quarter. Even after Minnesota erased that lead, Chicago regained control late in the second quarter only to watch the league’s top-ranked team slam the door for good. That night, Reese’s frustration boiled over, not at her teammates but at the officiating.

 She pointed out the massive free-throw disparity: 17 attempts for the Lynx versus just eight for the Sky, and didn’t mince words about the lack of calls inside. “I’ve been nice and humble, but I’m tired of this,” she said back then. And yet, the deeper issue goes beyond whistles. 

These collapses have become a pattern. In their August 2 loss to the Golden State Valkyries, Chicago led by eight at one point, only to be outscored 21–12 in the fourth. On July 15, they hung with Minnesota through the first half before fading late in a 91–78 defeat. Even back on June 18 against the Mystics, the script was eerily similar: a strong 26–11 first quarter erased by a disastrous third, ending in a 79–72 loss. 

Time and again, the Sky start strong and then falter when it matters most. That inconsistency is what Reese was alluding to when she said, ‘Good teams don’t lay down.’ Chicago has proven it can beat the league’s elite, toppling both Minnesota and New York earlier this season. The question is whether they can sustain that level for four quarters.