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Angel Reese and Sky Coach Free Throw Confusion Costs Game Against Mercury

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Joseph Varghese | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 1:07 PM ET

When Angel Reese was sidelined with a back injury, the Chicago Sky lost 8 of their 9 regular-season games by an average of 20 points per game. Upon her return, that average deficit has dropped to approximately 6 points.

Her importance to this squad is unparalleled, as they depend on her otherworldly rebounding and inside scoring to stay close to their opponents. Her defense has also been a major factor as she routinely suffocates opponent forwards.

Against the Phoenix Mercury, she was again instrumental in slowing down Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas. The latter has been on a tear and broke triple-double records.

Reese stopped the veteran from notching even a double-double and held Sabally from scoring in double digits. All that effort helped the Sky stay close to the Mercury despite facing the hostility from their home crowd.

With around 10 seconds to go, the 23-year-old forward scored her 15th point of a basket, but crucially, drew a foul. If she scored the free throw, which she has been converting all season at a 77% rate, she would have reduced the deficit to 1 point.

A clip emerged on social media where the LSU star was captured apparently asking her head coach, Tyler Marsh, if he wanted her to intentionally miss the free throw so that they could grab a rebound and tie the game.

Angel Reese: “Should I miss it?”

Coach: “No”

Angel Reese: *misses anyway* pic.twitter.com/nDB5OIe1VO
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) August 29, 2025

The clip shows her nodding her head and then missing the free throw. After the ball hit the front of the rim, Michaela Onyenwere tried to grab the rebound, only for Mercury players to pounce on the loose ball and gather it. That effectively cost the Sky the game.

Sky head coach denies asking Angel Reese to miss the free throw

Had any of the Chicago Sky players managed to grab the rebound, they could have looked to tie the game and take their chances in overtime. During the post-game press conference, reporters asked Tyler Marsh if he had instructed Angel Reese to miss the free throw.

She asked if we wanted her to miss. I told her to make it. We’re only gonna make it a one-point or two-point game. It’s been a one-possession game anyway, so um, no, she just missed the free throw. It happens, so no.
Tyler Marsh said

No one knows what exactly transpired between Marsh and his top player, but whatever the confusion was, it ended up costing them the game. They could have taken a chance, but it seems, as per the head coach, the game was already out of hand, even though they were down by just 2 points.

Angel Reese and Sky could finish worse than last season

Last season, the Chicago Sky finished 10th with a 13-27 record. After the season, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was fired as the franchise wanted to go in a different direction.

This season, they brought in better players and hoped 1st-year head coach Tyler Marsh, who has a record of helping players turn into superstars, would lead them into a new era.

So far, that decision has seemingly turned on its head. Admittedly, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot‘s season-ending injury stopped the team from taking off.

Maybe her experience could have helped the young group play better, and they could have been in the playoff battle. Instead, the team is now facing a scenario where they could end up worse than last season.

The Sky needs 5 wins to improve on last season’s record. Considering that they will play 5 playoff teams in their final 6 games, the chances of that happening are unlikely.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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