The Chicago Sky’s playoff hopes are all but gone, with the team sinking to a dismal 8-25 record. While the team unravels on a downward spiral, their star player, Angel Reese, sits out due to a back injury. The latest blow came in a crushing 92-59 defeat to the Golden State Valkyries, marking a new low in an already disastrous WNBA season.

What began as a competitive matchup unraveled into a collapse soon. Entering the game with a three-game loss streak, the Sky were unable to break free. Valkyries outscore Sky by a considerable 48-19 margin in the second half. The team managed to score only 9 points in the third quarter. Their 9-point third quarter and overall second-half total both marked season lows for Sky.

Following this embarrassing loss, Sky center Elizabeth Williams came forward to talk about the disastrous gameplay in the second half, stating, “I don’t think we scored any pain points in the second quarter, and we had 22 at half. So that was probably the biggest difference.” Chicago’s shooting woes told the story of the night, as the team went just 7-of-27 from three and shot 35.4 percent from the field.

“I think we just weren’t as aggressive, and the two fouls in 10 seconds really kind of dictated the rest of the quarter. We never really got a flow because there was a stoppage almost every defensive possession. It was hard for us to get pace offensively,” said Angel Reese’s teammate. The Sky finished with 19 fouls on the night, and their 15 turnovers ultimately sealed their fate in the loss.

After two minutes in the postgame conference, Williams owned up to the mistakes made. “You can say all the right things, you just have to do them. Ultimately, it’s on us as players to step up, not foul, make layups, and take care of the ball. You just got to do it at this point,” Williams said, expressing the state of her team. Despite the Chicago team being in this dire state, it looks like their star player will not return anytime soon.

Angel Reese’s return to the court looks increasingly unlikely

With only eleven games left for Sky, the return of their star player is highly questionable. Reese is currently suffering from a back injury and is being kept on a day-to-day status. However, one industry insider raised questions about this status. Talking on her Courtside Club podcast, Rachel DeMita said, “Angel Reese is obviously out with a back injury. She’s considered day-to-day, but she didn’t even travel with the team for the Indiana Fever game. So if she’s not even traveling with the team, I don’t know how she could be considered day-to-day.”

She added that Reese might be suffering from a major ailment and could call it quits on her season, considering Sky’s performance. But on the other hand, the Chicago Sky head coach, Tyler Marsh, had a more positive outlook. “I leave that to the medical. I think for us, and for Angel, if she’s healthy, she wants to play, and we want her to be out there to be able to play,” he said.

If the Chicago Sky hopes to keep their playoff chances alive, Angel Reese’s presence will be crucial. In her last outing, she delivered her 11th straight double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds in a tough loss to the Mystics. That performance pushed her season total to a league-high 17 double-doubles, extending an impressive streak that showcased her resurgence after a rough start to the year.

But with playoff hopes fading fast, the pressing question remains: is it more important for Reese to fully heal or to push for a return in hopes of keeping the Sky’s postseason dream alive?