Chicago Sky Facing Angel Reese Trade Decision After Injury News

The Chicago Sky have struggled in the early part of the 2025 WNBA season as they dropped to 2-5 after Saturday's loss to the Indiana Fever. While the team did relinquish a season-low 79 points to Indiana, they only scored 52 points, which was the franchise's lowest output since the 2011 season.

Chicago also lost starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot for the season, as she sustained a torn ACL during the Fever game. She had been averaging 12.0 points and 6.2 assists per contest in the six games prior.

In her absence, backup point guard Hailey Van Lith played 26 minutes and contributed just seven points and zero assists while turning the ball over three times.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Van Lith is a rookie with just 63 minutes of WNBA playing time under her belt, and veteran point guard Moriah Jefferson is yet to play in a game this season due to a leg injury. 

Chicago may need to make a trade for another impact point guard, but according to Sky reporter Karli Bell, the team would have to part ways with Angel Reese or Kamilla Cardoso to make it happen.

"They absolutely could, but then say goodbye to either Angel Reese or Kamilla Cardoso," Bell wrote of Chicago potentially acquiring a lead guard via trade. "If the Sky wanted to go and get another point guard quickly, this is the fastest way to do it without taking a salary hit. Both Reese & Cardoso are big names that draw in the fans and are absolutely big trade capital for the Sky."

Bell went on to describe potential parameters of a deal and even mentioned a few other WNBA teams that could have both the desire and means for a trade.

"If you were to trade either of them, it could be a 2-for-1 type of trade: Cardoso or Reese for two guards or a guard and a wing," she wrote. "The teams that I could see entertaining this type of trade are the Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, Golden State Valkyries, Connecticut Sun or the Seattle Storm."

Reese was named to the 2024 WNBA All-Star team after averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game as a rookie. This season, her production has dropped off slightly, as she is contributing just 9.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per contest.

Cardoso has seen her scoring increase from 9.8 to 10.9 points per game, but her rebounding has dropped from 7.9 to just 6.1 per contest.

Both of these players made the All-Rookie team in 2024 and are considered integral to Chicago's rebuild effort. However, the team is now facing a decision about their value relative to another lead ball-handler.