Angel Reese calls for “grace” as Sky navigate growing pains: “It’s a process. Give us, our coaches, and especially the guards some grace”

In the 2025 WNBA season, Angel Reese is averaging 11.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game(Image: Getty)

Angel Reese spoke with quiet determination after the Chicago Sky snapped their three‑game skid, urging patience and understanding from fans and critics alike, while moving to 4-10 and 10th in the Eastern Conference.

“Give them some grace, give us some grace, and give Tyler and the staff grace,” Reese, who was recently taunted about her WNBA performances said deliberately, defending not only her teammates but also first‑year head coach Tyler Marsh. “This is a lot of our first and second years, and it’s hard.”

Despite a strong 97‑86 win over the Sparks, where Reese took a sly dig at Los Angeles, the Sky are still navigating the steep learning curve of the WNBA. It’s a young team, Reese emphasized, with many still acclimating to the league’s speed and physicality. That’s particularly true for the backcourt.

“I said kudos to the guards, because we be seeing y’all on they [expletive] on Twitter,” she stated candidly. “Just let them hoop. It’s going to be a process.”

Reese, now in her second season, has taken on more than just rebounding duties — she’s become a vocal leader for this franchise.

Wednesday night’s game was a showcase: 18 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, all in front of a crowd that included WNBA legend Lisa Leslie.

“She told me, ‘Continue to work. You’re a beast on the boards,’” Reese recalled gratefully.

“She’s like a big sister, a mom, an aunt — whatever you want to call it. She doesn’t have to do it, but she does.”

“There’s been a lot of heat,” Reese admitted, referring to Marsh’s tough coaching style.

“We’re tired of getting cussed out. Not literally, but we had to be better in the post. We made the adjustments.”

Behind the scenes, teammate Ariel Atkins has also rallied around Reese, calling for fairness and restraint. Atkins defended her post‑game, emphasizing Reese’s “crown is heavy” under criticism and urging the media to keep scrutiny basketball‑centric.

Reese’s public plea reflects a broader truth: this team’s foundation is still being set. The post-game adjustments, the emotional barbs from Tyler Marsh, the loving support from WNBA predecessors like Leslie — all are part of the narrative of a franchise in rebuild mode.

As Reese put it: “Just trust the process.”

The season is young, the challenges are real, and the learning curve steep — but with Reese leading both in play and in voice, there’s a sense this squad is just beginning to write its story.