The Chicago Sky’s 2024 season wasn’t just a disappointment—it was a full-blown dumpster fire, a catastrophic collapse that left fans, players, and front office executives scrambling for answers after a year that began with playoff hopes and ended in utter chaos.

From the moment training camp opened, the Sky were plagued by inconsistency, locker room friction, and a stunning lack of cohesion that transformed a roster brimming with talent into a team that couldn’t seem to get out of its own way.

By season’s end, the once-proud franchise found itself near the bottom of the WNBA standings, its championship window slammed shut with such force that the entire organization is now facing a reckoning.

For a fanbase that celebrated a title just three years ago, this year’s freefall felt like a betrayal—a season defined by blown leads, public spats, and a sense that the team had lost its identity.

The roots of Chicago’s implosion run deep, with injuries, questionable coaching decisions, and reported chemistry issues combining to derail any chance of contention before the All-Star break.

Star guard Kahleah Copper, the 2021 Finals MVP, battled nagging injuries that limited her explosiveness, while key offseason acquisition Nneka Ogwumike, brought in to provide veteran leadership, struggled to mesh with a roster that never quite found its rhythm.

Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, hailed as a culture-builder when she was hired, saw her rotations and late-game strategies repeatedly picked apart, with players appearing hesitant and disjointed on the court.

Off the court, whispers of frustration among stars over roles and playing time grew louder, culminating in a midseason trade that sent fan favorite Marina Mabrey to the Dallas Wings—a move that only deepened the sense of disarray.

By the time the Sky were officially eliminated from playoff contention, the atmosphere around the team was toxic, with local media dubbing them “unwatchable” and ticket sales plummeting.

The fallout from the disaster reached its peak in the days following the season finale, when the Sky’s front office dropped a bombshell: head coach Teresa Weatherspoon would not return next season, a decision that signaled a full-scale rebuild but also ignited a firestorm of criticism over the timing and handling of her dismissal.

While the team cited “philosophical differences” and a need for “new leadership,” the move felt like too little, too late for a fanbase that had spent months calling for accountability.

Adding fuel to the flames, reports surfaced that star forward Alanna Smith and guard Courtney Williams—both key pieces of the rotation—would be hitting free agency, leaving the roster in tatters.

But no decision loomed larger than the one facing management regarding the future of Angel Reese, the 2024 No. 1 draft pick whose electrifying talent couldn’t save the Sky from their tailspin.

With the season in ruins, trade rumors involving Reese began to swirl like wildfire, with league insiders suggesting the Sky were open to listening to offers for their most marketable star.

Angel Reese arrived in Chicago with the weight of the world on her shoulders—a player hailed as a generational talent, a cultural icon who’d led LSU to a national title while amassing a massive social media following, and the supposed savior of a franchise desperate for a new face.

Her rookie season was a rollercoaster: flashes of brilliance, like her 25-point, 15-rebound masterpiece in a win over the Las Vegas Aces, were often overshadowed by the team’s overall dysfunction.

Reese averaged a solid 14.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, showcasing the tenacity and charisma that made her a star, but she also shouldered blame for the team’s late-game collapses and was visibly frustrated by the lack of structure around her. Off the court, she remained a magnet for attention, using her platform to advocate for gender equity and NIL rights, but the losing took a toll.

By season’s end, Reese had stopped short of demanding a trade, but her comments about wanting to “win at the highest level” and “play for an organization that values winning” were widely interpreted as a not-so-subtle message to management.

The trade rumors erupted almost immediately after the Sky’s season finale, with league sources revealing that at least five teams had inquired about Reese’s availability, including the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, and Dallas Wings—all contenders looking to add a dynamic forward to their championship puzzle.

The potential packages being discussed were staggering: multiple first-round picks, young talent, and salary cap relief, with one report suggesting the Liberty were willing to part with two All-Star caliber players for the chance to pair Reese with Breanna Stewart.

For the Sky, the rationale is clear: with their window closed and the roster in need of a complete overhaul, cashing in on Reese now could accelerate a rebuild by netting assets that might otherwise take years to develop.

“Angel is a special talent, but when you’re in the position we’re in, you have to consider all options,” one anonymous Sky executive told a local reporter. “We owe it to our fans to build a sustainable winner, and that might mean making some tough choices.”

The mere suggestion of trading Reese sent shockwaves through the WNBA, with fans taking to social media to express outrage, analysts debating the merits of such a move, and players across the league weighing in on the controversy.

On Twitter, #DontTradeAngel became a trending topic, with supporters accusing the Sky of giving up on their franchise player too soon. “You don’t trade a player like Angel—you build around her,” tweeted ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo. “This reeks of desperation.”

Meanwhile, a segment of the fanbase argued that Reese had “checked out” during the season and that the Sky would be better off moving her while her value is high. Reese herself has remained silent on the rumors, but her camp is reportedly “monitoring the situation closely,” aware that a trade could define the next phase of her career.

“She loves Chicago, but she’s not going to waste her prime on a rebuilding team,” a source close to Reese told The Athletic. “If they don’t show they’re serious about winning, she’ll want out.”

For the Sky, trading Reese would represent a stunning admission of failure—a franchise hitting the reset button just three years after hoisting the trophy, with no clear path back to contention in sight. The haul from a Reese deal would need to be massive to justify it: multiple first-round picks, a young All-Star, or a combination of both.

But even then, the optics of trading the most exciting player in franchise history after one season would be disastrous, potentially alienating a fanbase that’s already disillusioned. The alternative, however, is keeping a star who may not want to be there, risking further dysfunction as the team rebuilds slowly.

“This is a no-win situation,” said longtime Chicago sports radio host David Kaplan. “If they trade her, they’re the villains. If they keep her, they’re stuck in mediocrity. The front office better get this right.”

For Reese, a trade could be the fresh start she needs to reach her full potential as a championship contender, but it would also come with immense pressure to deliver for a new fanbase expecting immediate results.

Landing with a contender like the Liberty or Aces would thrust her into the spotlight alongside established superstars, where she’d be expected to contribute to a title run from day one—a challenge she’s proven capable of handling during her collegiate career. However, it would also mean leaving behind a city that embraced her and a platform she’s used to advocate for social justice.

Wherever she goes, Reese will bring her trademark intensity and star power, but the next chapter of her career will be defined by whether she can elevate a team to the pinnacle she’s already reached.

“Angel’s going to be great no matter where she plays,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, Reese’s former Olympic coach. “But she deserves to be in a winning environment. If Chicago can’t provide that, it’s best for both sides to move on.”

As the WNBA offseason kicks into high gear, the future of Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky hangs in the balance, with a franchise-altering decision looming that could reshape the landscape of the league.

For now, the “trash fire” that was the Sky’s season has given way to a smoldering standoff, with management weighing the allure of a rebuild against the backlash of trading a generational talent.

One thing is certain: whatever happens, the fallout will be explosive, with implications that will be felt from the Windy City to the league’s brightest stages. The only question left is whether the Sky have the courage to make the bold move—or if they’ll be consumed by the flames of their own making.