It was a turbulent time for the Sky with their most popular player after they fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
After the WNBA team’s decision last month to axe Weatherspoon after one season, rookie Angel Reese spoke out in her former coach’s defense and told the Chicago Sun-Times she “can’t imagine playing for the Sky.”
Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca said Wednesday that things have calmed down in the two weeks since.
Angel Reese voiced her frustration after the Sky fired Teresa Weatherspoon.
“The franchise’s relationship with Angel is in a good spot,” Pagliocca said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “Emotions were high for a couple days and we can respect that. We can appreciate it. We understand that there’s bonds that are built with coaches and players, especially the young ones.
“So, we’re in a good place right now. We’re back in discussions. Everything has calmed down quite a bit, but I understand it. Emotions are a real part of this thing when you have a real friendship.”
The Sky finished the season 13-27, losing 12 of their final 14 games to just miss out on the final playoff spot.
Despite adding Reese with the No. 7 pick and South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso at No. 3, the team regressed — they went 18-22 the previous year — in Weatherspoon’s first season.
There seemed to be myriad reasons behind the firing.
Terese Weatherspoon was fired after one season as Sky coach.
Some players reportedly voiced concerns about an offensive scheme that changed midseason in their exit interviews.
Pagliocca also acknowledged there were rumblings that veteran free agents would not be interested in signing with the Sky due to Weatherspoon’s inexperience.
“We heard things along those lines,” Pagliocca said. “We just want to make sure that we’re continuing our quest for a championship, being in the playoffs every single season.”
Reese, who averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in an impressive rookie season, missed the final six games due to a fractured wrist.
Angel Reese takes in a Bears game on Oct. 6, 2024.
The 22-year-old wrote on X on Wednesday that the brace was coming off her hand.“First, I want to say that I have a lot of respect for Spoon,” Pagliocca said. “We’re very appreciative of the competitive teams, the resiliency, the spirit she brought to us every night. Look guys, as an organization we just felt it was time to make a change.”
