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Angel Reese Posts Strong Statement After Chicago Sky Return

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 1:06 AM ET

After missing the Chicago Sky's previous seven games due to a back injury, Angel Reese made her return to action on Tuesday when they took on the Seattle Storm.

The home crowd at Wintrust Arena was happy to see Reese in uniform again, and she didn't show any real signs of rust. She shot an impressive 9-of-13 from the field and posted 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one block.

Although the Sky lost, 94-88, they honored her on social media as the player of the game, and Reese appreciated that recognition.

"WELCOME BACK BARBIE," the Sky's caption read.

Reese Reciprocated on Instagram

Reese, who has multiple nicknames that contain the name "Barbie" in them, reposted the Sky's post and added an appreciative caption.

"BARBIE BACK!" she wrote.

The 23-year-old has made strides since her rookie season in 2024. Last year, she quickly made a name for herself as an elite rebounder and a tenacious rebounder who wasn't afraid to get physical or even, as some claim, dirty. But she has expanded her game this season.

She's averaging 14.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals a game while shooting 45.6% from the field this year. Her shooting efficiency is a major improvement over the 39.1% she shot from the floor last year.

She made the WNBA All-Star Game for the second straight time last month, and she had six points and nine rebounds in 17 minutes during that contest.

The Sky have the second-worst record in the league at 8-26 and are on a five-game losing streak, but at least Reese has given them some real hope.

What's Next for the Sky?

Chicago has a tough schedule coming up the rest of the way. It will play the Phoenix Mercury once, the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty twice and the Las Vegas Aces three times.

Unfortunately, tanking isn't really an option for the franchise. It traded away its 2026 first-round draft pick to the Minnesota Lynx, and therefore, it will simply have to look to build chemistry, cohesiveness and confidence for the future throughout the rest of this season.

The positive, however, is that Reese is back, and at the very least, she should help put butts in seats for the Sky and the league as a whole. Interest in the WNBA and women's basketball has spiked over the last year or two, and the talented forward has been a part of that success.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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