In the latest WNBA drama, Angel Reese might be sidelined, but her competitive fire is still scorching the court! The Chicago Sky forward, whose season ended prematurely due to a wrist injury that screams “retirement home at 22” (okay, maybe it’s just surgery), was spotted living her best assistant coach life during the Sky’s 93-88 nail-biting loss to the Phoenix Mercury. And boy, did things heat up.
Sunday, September 15, at the Wintrust Arena, started like any other game—until Reese decided to trade layups for lip-ups. Picture this: Angel Reese in an intense, borderline volcanic exchange with her head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. The conversation was so animated, you’d think they were debating the existence of life on Mars, or more importantly, life in the Sky’s fragile playoff hopes.
Teresa Weatherspoon vs. Angel Reese: The Sideline Showdown
Forget Caitlin Clark for a second—yes, the same Caitlin Clark who’s running away with the Rookie of the Year award like she’s in the middle of a clearance sale. Angel Reese isn’t done stealing the spotlight just yet. Despite a wrist injury that has her benched (literally and figuratively), Reese was all up in the coaching game, clipboard in hand, ready to “assist” in ways that wouldn’t show up on a stat sheet.
Sure, Reese averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game before her injury—numbers that had her vying for Rookie of the Year. But on Sunday, she traded the hardwood for a huddle and, if her intensity was anything to go by, you’d think she was competing in America’s Next Top Coach.
Sources say it was all about strategy, but with the gesturing, the furrowed brows, and what could only be described as “passion-filled yelling,” fans might have been wondering if they were watching an episode of Keeping Up with the Reeses. The sideline chat went viral, as everything does these days, and social media buzzed with takes hotter than Teresa Weatherspoon’s patience.
Playoffs? Maybe Next Year, Chicago Sky…
Now, while Reese was busy laying down the law, the Sky was busy fumbling their playoff position. Leading at half-time only to collapse in the second half? Classic Chicago Sky. The team’s now neck-and-neck with the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics, all vying for the eighth and final playoff spot. With a .342 record, they’re barely hanging on, like that one last French fry at the bottom of the bag.
The Sky’s fate rests on their upcoming game against the Dream on September 17, where they’ll try to prove that “third time’s the charm” isn’t just a saying reserved for unlucky lovers. At 19:30 ET/16:30 PT, Sky fans will either be popping champagne or sending Reese more clipboards to break.
The Unofficial Assistant Coach Era Begins
Despite being out for the season, Reese has fully embraced her unofficial assistant coach role with more gusto than your office colleague pretending to enjoy team-building activities. Her passion is clear, even if her playtime is over. Reese’s hopes for a rookie year WNBA ring are still alive—just not on the court.
And if she’s not in the running for Rookie of the Year anymore (thanks to Caitlin Clark’s late-season takeover), maybe there’s another award for sideline theatrics? Because no one’s bringing the heat quite like Angel Reese right now, wrist injury be damned.
So, keep your eyes on the Sky, or more precisely, on the sidelines, where Angel Reese’s off-court antics are proving to be just as entertaining as her rookie season. And who knows—if things go south in the playoff race, Chicago might want to consider signing her as a full-time assistant coach… or at least get her some new clipboards.
Who’s Next on the Schedule?
In what might be the most important game of the Sky’s season, they’ll be facing the Atlanta Dream next. This is the last stand, folks—win, and their playoff dreams are alive. Lose, and well, let’s just say Angel Reese might need a different team to “coach” next season.
