Her role was reduced. Her performance dipped. And now, her future is under fire.

CHICAGO, IL —
Angel Reese has gone from rising WNBA media darling to a benched liability—and this time, the cameras didn’t lie.

According to sources close to the Chicago Sky organization, head coach Tyler Marsh has “completely restructured” the team’s offensive approach—and that means Reese is no longer the centerpiece. In fact, she’s not even guaranteed starting minutes.

Just days before a highly anticipated matchup against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, Reese was notably absent from training camp. Her camp called it “personal preparation.” Insiders say it’s anything but.

“She was blindsided,” said one team staffer. “She’s not taking the adjustment well.”

THE ROLE REDESIGN

Coach Marsh’s new system emphasizes floor spacing, mid-range jumpers, and a more mobile frontcourt. That doesn’t favor Angel Reese—who’s known more for her rebounding presence than her outside shooting.

Her 39.1% field goal percentage, mostly from around the basket, has become a glaring weakness. Now the Sky are moving her further from the rim, effectively cutting off her signature stat-padding style.

While Reese fans argue the decision is political, Marsh maintains it’s tactical.

“This is about versatility. We need every player to stretch the floor and execute beyond the paint,” he said during a closed-door media session.

ENTER: CAMILA CARDOSO

Replacing Reese in the low post is Camila Cardoso, the 6’6″ Brazilian phenom. With elite touch and superior shot selection, she’s not only eating up Reese’s minutes—she’s taking over her space, her role, and possibly her future.

“She’s everything the Sky hoped Angel would be,” one analyst noted. “Only with more polish, less drama.”

The optics are sharp. The timing is sharper. Cardoso’s rise comes as Reese’s stock plummets—not just in playtime, but in public sentiment.

REESE GOES SILENT—AND MISSING

Rather than embracing the challenge, Reese has reportedly withdrawn. She skipped media availability. She skipped team drills. And insiders say she’s stopped communicating openly with the staff.

The Chicago Sun-Times confirmed that Reese has yet to show up to full-speed training camp since the announcement of her role change.

For a player who built her brand on “unapologetically competitive,” the silence is starting to feel like surrender.

FROM REBOUND QUEEN TO REPLACED

Let’s not forget how quickly Reese rose to stardom. After dominating college boards at LSU and starting her WNBA career with 19 rebounds in just her second game, she seemed destined to own the paint.

Her double-double streak became marketing gold. Her jersey sales soared. But the problem? The league evolved. And Reese didn’t.

Now, a coach’s decision has her drifting toward the perimeter—where her jumper is slow, her release awkward, and her efficiency disastrous.

“She’s being asked to play outside-in,” said one scout. “It’s not just a tactical mismatch. It’s an identity crisis.”

THE INTERNET TAKES SIDES

When news broke of Reese’s benching, social media went to war.

Supporters claimed it was sabotage. Critics said it was overdue. And somewhere in between sat the truth: the WNBA has no patience for inefficiency—no matter your follower count.

Then came the bombshell: Angel Reese is no longer starting in the Unrivaled League either—a decision made by 29-year-old breakout coach Nola Henry, who reportedly clashed with Reese over role expectations and “team-first mentality.”

Reese, once the face of a movement, is now being sidelined across leagues.

THE CONTRACT COMPLAINTS

While her game faltered, Reese’s off-court comments only fueled the fire. She went viral for complaining that her $73,000 rookie salary “doesn’t even cover one of my bills”—despite signing endorsement deals worth hundreds of thousands.

Then came the now-infamous podcast moment:

“If they don’t give us what we want, we’re sitting out.”

Negotiation? Maybe. But with her missing layups and now missing minutes, it played more like a tantrum.

THE COLD COMPARISON: CAITLIN CLARK

While Reese spirals, Caitlin Clark is soaring.

Clark’s games are sold out. She’s breaking records. ESPN just announced 41 of her 44 games will be nationally televised—an unprecedented figure.

Meanwhile, Reese’s homecoming games are going unsold. Tickets to her matchups are listed for $29 while Clark’s resale seats are hitting $6,000.

The difference? One is producing on the floor. The other is producing excuses.

AND THEN… THE BRICKS

In her most recent game, following her “pay me or I sit” moment, Reese shot 5-of-13 from the field, missing multiple layups and one attempt that struck the underside of the backboard.

Analysts were merciless:

“She wants Shaq-level money with Saturday morning effort.”

“Most players get paid for performance. Angel’s getting paid for past hype.”

FINAL WORD: CAN SHE SALVAGE THIS?

What comes next for Angel Reese? If she adapts, she could still carve out a meaningful role in a modern WNBA system.

But if she continues this path—demanding more while producing less—she won’t just be benched.

She’ll be forgotten.

This isn’t just a cold stretch. This is a turning point.

And the clock is ticking.