WNBA star Angel Reese has been sidelined since July 29.
Angel Reese, in her second WNBA season, has been central to the Chicago Sky’s identity with her rebounding dominance and high level defense. But a back injury has kept her sidelined, and the team has struggled without her. It is 1-9 in games she has missed and it is enduring a four-game losing streak.
Chicago’s abysmal performances during her absence proves how essential she is to the team’s chances of competing in the WNBA. Now, with the Sky’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread, all eyes are on whether Reese will be cleared to return in time for Tuesday’s pivotal matchup.
Chicago Sky Have a Major Angel Reese Decision to Make
Amid these struggles, Chicago received some encouragement when coach Tyler Marsh confirmed Reese took part in the team’s shootaround on Tuesday morning and the two-time All-Star is a game-time decision for the Sky’s all-important matchup against the Seattle Storm.
“I think that we're hopeful. ... It's looking pretty good right now,” Marsh said of Reese’s status.
Status alert: Angel Reese (back) participated in shootaround; to be a game-time decision Tuesday, per coach Marsh.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) August 19, 2025
"I think that we're hopeful... it's looking pretty good right now."
(via @ChiStateOfMind_)
While the new development should spark some excitement, it might be coming a little too late for the Sky who are on the brink of elimination. If they lose to the Storm and the Washington Mystics defeat the Connecticut Sun, Chicago will be eliminated from playoff contention.
What this means, is even if Reese returns on Tuesday, the Sky could very well receive news after the game that their season is effectively over.
Tuesday's WNBA playoff berth scenarios, per the league:
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) August 19, 2025
Dallas is eliminated with wins by Golden State and *either* Seattle or Washington.
Chicago eliminated with a loss *and* a Washington win.
Chicago enters the night 8-25, sitting at the foot of the standings. The Sky have won one game in her absence this season and are 2-14 without Reese in the lineup since she joined the team. When on the floor, she leads the WNBA in rebounding at 12.6 per game and paces Chicago with 14.2 points per contest, production that earned her another All-Star nod this summer.
Chicago Sky Need Angel Reese on the Floor
The Sky’s disappointing campaign has been shaped by inconsistency and the absence of their best players in key stretches. Without Reese anchoring the paint, Chicago’s defense has faltered, and it has lacked the scoring balance to keep pace with playoff contenders.
Facing the Storm (17-18), a team holding on to the final playoff spot, the Sky will need Reese’s inside presence to control the boards and generate offense. Whether she can suit up remains uncertain, but the stakes are as high as they’ve been all year.
Related: Angel Reese News Surfaces After 7 Straight Missed Games
Related: Angel Reese Makes Request After 6 Straight Missed Games
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Category: Basketball
