Angel Reese, a prominent player for the Chicago Sky, has been ruled out for the team’s concluding match of the regular season against the New York Liberty on Thursday due to a lingering back injury. Previously, Reese had missed ten games earlier in the season due to similar issues, which resurfaced on Sunday. Notably, during the Sky’s loss to the Las Vegas Aces, she did not play in the second half, having been suspended for the first half due to “statements detrimental to the team.”

After sitting out the Sky’s match against the Aces on Tuesday due to her back pain, Coach Tyler Marsh lamented, “It’s been a disappointing season from an injury standpoint for sure across the board with our team. I don’t think that that’s anything different with Angel. She wants to be out there, she’s a competitor, she wants to fight, she wants to compete. Any time you’re not able to do that at full strength, individually or as a team, it’s disappointing, it’s frustrating.”

This season was particularly challenging for the underperforming Sky, who currently hold a record of 10-33. Reese expressed her discontent during a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune regarding the team’s management and called for significant changes in the upcoming free agency.

“I’m not settling for the same situation we had this year,” Reese boldly stated. “We need great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. Future efforts will be crucial in ensuring we attract top talent because we cannot remain content with our current roster.”

Additionally, Reese remarked on the situation of Courtney Vandersloot, a veteran and franchise cornerstone, who has been absent since June 7 due to a torn ACL, stating, “We can’t rely on Courtney coming back at her age. While I know she’ll be valuable, we cannot depend on that. We need someone younger with experience, ready to compete for a championship.”

Reese’s inability to contribute this season is a notable disappointment, as she appeared in 30 games, achieved accolades such as her second All-Star appearance, and posted impressive averages of 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals, leading the league in rebounding for the second consecutive year.