Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Paglione took aim at rookie phenom Angel Reese during a live, in‑season press conference—calling out her on‑court production by name and leaving teammates, fans, and league insiders stunned.
When asked to address Chicago’s sluggish 2–6 start, Paglione didn’t hide behind vague, team‑wide critiques. Instead, he leveled a direct challenge at Reese: “We need more out of Angel,” he declared, his voice flat and unflinching.
There was no preamble, no “I’m disappointed in the whole team”—just a pointed “We’ve had big expectations for Angel, and she hasn’t delivered.”
To publicly single out a 22‑year‑old still navigating her rookie year is almost unheard of at this level. GM critiques are typically couched in diplomatic jargon and reserved for closed‑door meetings. But Paglione went scorched‑earth, and the WNBA Twitterverse exploded.
Reese arrived in Chicago with an unprecedented media blitz. Dubbed the “Chi Barbie,” she brought an electric on‑court style, social‑media savvy, and a superstar brand that promised to reignite the Sky’s fortunes. Fans eagerly anticipated her highlight‑reel dunks and double‑digit scoring nights.
Instead, her season numbers have dipped: she’s averaging 10 points per game on 35 percent shooting, with an uptick in missed close‑range attempts.
While she’s still crashing the boards—averaging a solid 12 rebounds per game—those signature put‑backs and smooth finishes haven’t materialized consistently. By naming her specifically, Paglione turned what should have been team accountability into a one‑woman public shaming.
According to sources inside the Sky organization, the fallout was immediate and heated. One insider likened the post‑press‑conference locker‑room meeting to a “courtroom cross‑examination,” with raised voices, pointed fingers, and chairs knocked over in frustration.
Veteran players reportedly took Reese’s side, bristling at the idea that she alone was to blame for Chicago’s sluggish offense and porous defense.
“It felt like he was sacrificing her on the altar of PR damage control,” one source said. “That’s not how you build a culture.”
Chicago’s frustration runs deeper than a rookie’s shooting slump. Key contributors like Courtney Vandersloot have been sidelined by injury, and Camila Cardoso, the team’s other young forward, has struggled to find consistency.
The motion offense devised by Coach Tyler Marsh was supposed to play to Reese’s strengths—quick cuts, interior dumps, and high‑energy defense.
Instead, it has often reduced to stagnant half‑court sets and missed rotations. Now, with the GM publicly questioning Reese’s role, the Sky face a critical juncture: do they double down on their rookie investment, giving her space to grow, or pivot, potentially trading assets to prioritize veterans?
When asked after the game about Paglione’s remarks, Reese maintained poise beyond her years. “I hear everything,” she told reporters.
“But I’m here to work. I’m going to keep doing my job—crash the boards, defend, and find my shots.” Her composure earned praise across sports media, but it did little to quell speculation about her future in Chicago.
Fans and analysts alike are wondering what comes next. Can Reese respond with a statement game—a 20‑point, 15‑rebound performance—to silence doubters? Will Chicago’s front office continue to back her, or are we witnessing the first step toward a mid‑season shake‑up?
The Sky’s die‑hard supporters are divided: some see Paglione’s tough love as a wake‑up call, while others view it as a betrayal.
Publicly naming a rookie as the scapegoat is a high‑risk strategy—one that could rally the team around a perceived injustice or fracture trust irreparably.
As Angel Reese continues to develop her game, Chicago fans and league observers will be watching every box‑out, every layup, and every press conference with renewed intensity. Because in the WNBA, few things are as dramatic as when the head of basketball operations points the finger—live, on camera, and without mercy.
