In a move that’s part heartwarming and part eyebrow-raising, Angel Reese, the WNBA’s queen of on-court sass, took to social media to celebrate her former Chicago Sky teammate Kysre Gondrezick’s 27th birthday. The dynamic duo had barely enough time to swap more than a few high-fives before Gondrezick was cut from the team, but that didn’t stop Reese from making a special request to her legion of fans.
Reese, fresh from her LSU Tigers days, asked her followers to create a montage of all their shared moments, proclaiming, “(Somebody make me a lil edit for me to post of me & Kysre of all our videos together cause it’s my pookie’s birthdayyyyy).” She didn’t stop there, rallying her followers with, “Y’all go tell Ky happy 27th birthday!!! @KysreRae miss you girlies.”
The internet was abuzz, not just from Reese’s unusual nickname for Gondrezick—”pookie”—but also from the touching reply from the birthday girl herself, “They could never make me hate you.” Clearly, their bond transcends the typical teammate camaraderie, or maybe it’s just a testament to the power of social media declarations.
Now, while Reese’s gesture was a sweet one, it did raise some questions. For starters, why is Gondrezick currently team-less? Well, the plot thickens. Gondrezick, who once graced the Indiana Fever’s roster, was picked up by the Sky in a whirlwind comeback earlier this year. But just as quickly as she arrived, she was waived—again. This marks her third release since starting her professional career in 2021, proving that while love from former teammates might be strong, roster spots in the WNBA are anything but guaranteed.
Adding to the drama, Gondrezick recently made headlines for her public appearance with NBA star Jaylen Brown at the EPSY Awards, where the couple unveiled their relationship. But alas, it seems even the glitz of an NBA romance can’t secure a spot on a WNBA team.
As we continue to monitor Reese’s public affection for her “pookie,” one thing’s for sure: in the world of sports, friendships can outlast contracts, and a birthday shoutout can create waves that go beyond the court. Now, whether this wave will bring Gondrezick back to the WNBA shores or not, only time—and perhaps a few more heartfelt social media posts—will tell.
