The WNBA playoffs are heating up, but one of the league’s brightest young stars is making headlines off the court. Angel Reese, sidelined earlier this season by injury, expressed her frustration after learning that the Indiana Fever had advanced to the semifinals.
A Bold Claim
Reese, who has become one of the most talked-about players in the league, didn’t hold back her emotions when reflecting on what could have been for her own team, the Chicago Sky.
“The Sky would have won the WNBA if it weren’t for my injury,” Reese declared — a bold statement that has stirred conversation among fans and analysts alike.
The What-If Factor
Injuries are an unavoidable part of sports, but for Chicago, Reese’s absence was felt deeply. As a dominant rebounder and emotional leader on the floor, her presence could have been a difference-maker in critical games. Supporters of the Sky echo her sentiment, pointing to the team’s flashes of brilliance earlier in the season before injuries took their toll.
Fans React
Social media quickly lit up after Reese’s statement. Some praised her confidence and competitiveness, while others viewed her remarks as dismissive of the teams still fighting in the playoffs.
“She’s not wrong. With her healthy, the Sky had everything it takes,” one fan posted.
Others pushed back: “You can’t crown yourself champions on a what-if. The Fever earned their spot.”
Respect for the Grind
Even as her words sparked debate, Reese acknowledged the frustration that comes with watching from the sidelines. She also emphasized her determination to come back stronger next season. For a player already known for her fire and intensity, that drive could spell trouble for opponents in the future.
Looking Ahead
The WNBA’s playoff spotlight remains fixed on the Fever and other contenders, but Reese’s statement is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional sports. One injury, one absence, can alter the destiny of an entire season.
For now, Angel Reese will continue to watch from afar — but her vow suggests that the next time the Sky takes the court at full strength, she plans to make sure there are no “what-ifs” left unanswered.
Injured Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham still in middle of all the drama during Fever’s shocking playoff upset
Game Recap: Fever vs. Dream (9/18/25)
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham both managed to end up in the spotlight despite not playing in Game 3 of the Fever’s first-round upset against the Dream.
Following their shocking 87-85 win Thursday, Clark and other Indiana players held up a “W” symbol with their hands as they walked off the Gateway Center court, while Cunningham ended up on the broadcast for standing near midcourt — and not moving, even as a police officer asked her to back up — with Clark nearby as Indiana’s Odyssey Sims remained on the court after drawing a foul earlier in the game.
Clark (groin) and Cunningham (right knee) have both been ruled out for the season, which will now extend at least another round after the No. 6-seeded Fever toppled the No. 3-seeded Dream.
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are pictured during the Fever’s Game 3 win Sept. 18.Screengrab via X/@HoopMixOnly
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are pictured near midcourt during the Fever’s Game 3 win Sept. 18.Screengrab via X/@HoopMixOnly
Indiana exited the court to boos following their win, which prompted Clark and others to turn around to different fans and flash their “W” signs.
And with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Cunningham waited just behind the midcourt line following Allisha Gray’s foul and seemingly was told to not move any further — though it’s unclear what exactly, if anything, was said between her and the police officer during the brief exchange.
Cunningham reposted a photo of the encounter that included a caption of, “THIS IS SOME AURA.”
The Fever, who entered the season as potential title contenders after hiring Stephanie White as head coach and landing Cunningham to complement the rest of their lineup, proceeded to struggle for most of the year as they lost five players to season-ending injuries.
Among those was Clark, their superstar who dealt with injuries to both groins and her left quad before getting shut down earlier this month.
So Sims producing 16 points and dishing the assist to Aliyah Boston on the game-winning basket Thursday was surprising.
The Fever — led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points — winning two straight games against the Dream injected some chaos into the WNBA playoff picture, too, given that Clark and Cunningham were both stuck on the bench.
“We say it pretty much ad nauseam, but it’s the resilience, the flexibility, the welcome and inclusive nature of this team, their selflessness to pull for the we over the me, the ability to let each teammate be who they are and shine at their best and to lift them up,” White told reporters postgame. “In those moments, that’s good for 12-15 points. It is. You couple that with the resilience, the toughness, the grit, the fight, the scrappiness, and you always give yourself a chance.”
The Fever will face the Aces during their first semifinals appearance since 2015.
