Sky Coach Weighs In on Angel Reese’s Mental Health as Latest Move Intensifies Suspension Fallout

“I’ve been attacked so many times. Death threats. I’ve been sexualized. I’ve been threatened. There are so many things,” Angel Reese shared back in 2024 during her final March Madness run. Despite it all, she never broke down. She just took some days off to prioritise her mental health. Almost a year since then, and Reese had ended up in a far more serious situation. As her interview with the Chicago Tribune went viral, she blasted the Chicago Sky front office and even threw some of her teammates under the bus. And the fallout from that interview has been massive.

Reese, as expected, earned the ire of her teammates and was urged to apologize the same night. But that wasn’t enough. The Chicago Sky suspended her for the first half of Thursday’s game against the LV Aces, though she didn’t play at all due to her “back” issue. It all comes up with just two games remaining for the finale. Oh, and since she removed “Chi-town Barbie” from her Instagram bio, it sounded an alarm. So, naturally, it’s fair to assume how she’s dealing with it all mentally.

And this is exactly what a reporter asked HC Tyler Marsh before the Sky vs. Aces rematch. To which Marsh replied: “Yeah. I think that first, it starts with letting them know what my availability and access is to them, in terms of any time of support they need… I don’t ever want to just assume that I’m doing and saying the things necessary to provide them the support that they’ve needed in moments like this.” He added: “I’ve tried to be as communicative as possible with our team, of knowing just how I can be there for them, and having that open line of communication.” It ain’t the first time Marsh has supported his team by keeping calm. He has been doing this throughout the year.

Even when he heard the LSU Tigress making comments on him to coach harder, his first reaction was to reach out to her. “We talked before the game… that will stay between me and Angel… I think that everyone had their opportunities to speak, and we’ll leave it at that. … I think that everyone is entitled to feel how they feel. The most important thing is staying authentic to who I am… the overarching theme is that none of us is happy with where our record has been, organization-wise… We’ll let the offseason handle itself as it may,” he said in the postgame press conference. For him, her comments were a deeper concern, but still, he ensured everything was good. And not just that, despite being in an intense situation, he’s got nothing but praise for the same player.

“That’s a little before my time… But yeah, I’m familiar with James [Worthy], but I’m more familiar with Angel,” he shared while speaking with sports commentator Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. He then drew a connection between the former LSU Tigress’ game and the style of Lakers Hall of Famer James Worthy. He even talked about AR’s versatility, something that helped define Worthy’s career.

“There’s so much more room for growth, and there’s so much progression that she’s shown from Year One to Year Two,” Marsh said after explaining how the star forward is already showcasing standout skills. That statement, right after the controversy, is something huge.

Of course, it’s not easy for a rookie head coach, especially one who has little to say in disciplinary decisions. Still, Marsh believes everybody’s where they’re supposed to be. “We are all subject to go through adversity in different forms at different times — sometimes together, sometimes individually,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times. This calm is hard to get, but he’s lucky to have his faith etched into his skin.

Inside of his forearm, under a cross, there’s a psalm that reads: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight.” It’s a verse his college pastor opened every sermon with, and Marsh is now translating it into his coaching. “I can’t switch up who I am as things get tougher,” he told the Sun-Times. And it’s the same lesson he’s got for Reese, no matter how things go with her. All this is needed, too, honestly, especially after Reese’s recent move that intensified suspension fallout.

“Chi-town Barbie” is a nickname she had carried throughout most of her two years in Chicago. Something she asked for herself as she penned: “I need a new name now that I’m in Chicago lol something cute that is catchy like Bayou Barbie” last year. A couple of days after her quotes, she unveiled her new nickname, “Chi Barbie,” a play on the name of the city of Chicago. So, her removing this name is quite suspicious. But what makes it even more intriguing is the timing.

Is Angel Reese planning to leave Sky??

Last week, Angel Reese made headlines after candidly stating that the Sky needs to bring in better talent to compete. She even added that she’d love to stay in Chicago but would consider a change if the franchise couldn’t deliver. “I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” she told the Chicago Tribune. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a nonnegotiable for me.”

Makes sense since Angel Reese, the league’s leader in rebounding, had just ended up with the Sky as the bottom-most team for the second consecutive season. Especially when she’s been giving it all. And we’ve seen her no-look passes like a pro. Still, the Sky ended up with their worst franchise record since 2006.

So, pouring out her frustration while directing the franchise toward a better direction makes sense. But she had a penalty to pay. As she shared: “I am very vocal about what we need and what I want… I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously, I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have and maximize that as much as I can.” It won’t be a surprise if removing Chi-town Barbie from her bio comes as a hint that she’s leaving the Sky soon.