The Chicago Sky made headlines on September 7th when they announced Angel Reese would be benched for the first half of their game against the Las Vegas Aces. The official statement framed it as “accountability” for “statements detrimental to the team.”

But insiders tell a much darker story: this wasn’t just discipline from the top — it was the climax of a player-led revenge plot, a cold and calculated response to Reese’s public disrespect of her own teammates.

The Official Story vs. The Real Story

On paper, the Sky’s statement was straightforward: Reese crossed a line, ownership stepped in, and the issue was “handled internally.”

But sources around the league suggest the truth is more explosive: Reese’s suspension was orchestrated by the very veterans she humiliated.

This wasn’t punishment. This was payback.

The Betrayal That Sparked It All

The fuse was lit in a September 3rd Chicago Tribune interview. Reese didn’t just express frustration with the Sky’s disappointing season. She went further — way further.

She essentially called her own teammates not good enough.

“We can’t settle for what we had this year. We need good players. We need great players.”

For veterans like Rachel Banham, Ariel Atkins, and Haley Van Lith, it felt like a knife in the back. But the most personal blow was aimed at Courtney Vandersloot — a two-time WNBA champion and franchise icon.

Reese said bluntly:

“We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at that age that she’s at.”

The comment was devastating. Vandersloot, 36, had left New York — a championship contender — to help rebuild Chicago. And now the very player the franchise was building around had dismissed her as washed up.

That wasn’t just disrespect. That was war.

The Veterans Strike Back

From that moment, the Sky locker room became a battlefield. What the public saw as “tension” was really the planning of a coup.

Step one: Withdraw support.
Atkins, once Reese’s most vocal defender, delivered a brutal message to reporters:

“I just don’t really care. I’m so over all of this. I’m grown and I just don’t care.”

Translation: Angel’s on her own.

Step two: Fight back publicly.
Vandersloot, the legend Reese had written off, fired back with authority:

“Contrary to what people say or think, my age is absolutely not a factor. I am coming back. I’m going to come back better than ever.”

The subtext was clear — Vandersloot was drawing a line in the sand.

Step three: Force the organization’s hand.
By removing their shield of protection, the vets left Reese exposed. The Sky’s front office had no choice but to side with its proven veterans. The half-game suspension was checkmate.

Why the Veterans Won

Reese’s hypocrisy made the takedown easy.

Poor Play: Early in the season, she shot just 27% on layups. Teammates stayed quiet to protect her.

Turnovers: Reese led the WNBA with 118 turnovers in 30 games, averaging nearly 4 per night.

Discipline Issues: She piled up 8 technical fouls, earning an automatic suspension for a marquee matchup vs. Caitlin Clark.

Drama Magnet: Reports suggested the Sky’s offense actually flowed better without her.

The veterans had receipts. And they knew exactly when to cash them in.

The Organization Chooses a Side

The official statement about “accountability” was coded language. It wasn’t about the media comments alone — it was about restoring order to a fractured locker room.

Ariel Atkins confirmed as much when she told reporters:

“Ownership handled it how they see fit. They have full support from our team.”

The message was unmistakable: the veterans had reclaimed their locker room. Reese had lost the war.

Fallout: Is Reese Done in Chicago?

Now the question isn’t whether Reese can recover her standing. It’s whether she has a future with the Sky at all.

Coach Tyler Marsh, when asked if Reese was part of the team’s future, responded with a single, icy word: “Sure.”

GM Jeff Pagliocca added only: “She’ll be on the roster until I hear differently.”

Those aren’t endorsements. Those are exit strategies.

The Caitlin Clark Contrast

Making matters worse for Reese is the constant shadow of Caitlin Clark.

While Reese was suspended for technical fouls, Clark was praised for coaching teammates from the sideline while injured. While Reese fractured her locker room, Clark united hers and pushed Indiana into the playoff race.

Clark built her team up. Reese tore hers down.

The Verdict

Angel Reese’s suspension wasn’t a simple disciplinary measure. It was the dramatic endgame of a locker room revolt led by the veterans she disrespected.

The Sky have made their choice — professionalism over drama, unity over ego. And with trade speculation already swirling, one truth is clear:

Angel Reese may have played her last meaningful game in a Chicago Sky uniform.