Angel Reese Says Sky Missing 2024 WNBA Playoff Bracket 'Left a Bad Taste in My Mouth'

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese echoed her earlier assertion that missing the 2024 WNBA playoffs "left a bad taste in my mouth."

"I want to win as bad as anyone else in Chicago wants to win," Reese told reporters Monday.

Chicago finished 13-27 in Reese's rookie year, two games behind the Atlanta Dream for the final postseason berth.

For Reese, the disappointment of landing in ninth place was compounded by the fact she missed Chicago's final six games because of a wrist injury. The Sky went 1-5 during that stretch, and their 89-58 blowout at the hands of Washington was particularly costly.

Had Reese been healthy, maybe they could've leapfrogged the Mystics in the standings.

Granted, there weren't a lot of people in the Windy City who thought the team would even be a playoff threat. Some projected Chicago to be last in the league with a new front office embracing a rebuild.

Reese's remarks underline how the Sky are aiming much higher in 2025. They fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after just one year and hired Tyler Marsh. They brought back franchise legend Courtney Vandersloot. And they traded away the No. 3 overall pick as part of a deal for two-time All-Star Ariel Atkins.

A lot will hinge on how much Chicago's young players continue to develop.

Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds, while center Kamilla Cardoso put up 9.8 points, 7.9 boards and 1.4 blocks per contest. First-round pick Hailey Van Lith will be asked to help compensate for the exit of leading scorer Chennedy Carter (17.5 points).

Chicago still needs a lot of reinforcements to be a serious contender, but making the playoffs is a reasonable target to set.