Sophie Cunningham Says Some Criticisms of Angel Reese Belong Behind Closed Doors
Cunningham urged teammates to protect the locker room after Reese publicly questioned the Chicago Sky's roster and was suspended by the team.
Sophie Cunningham criticized Angel Reese on her podcast for airing frustrations about the Chicago Sky in public, saying some remarks "you just can't say" and urging teammates to "protect your locker room at all costs." The comments came after Reese told the Chicago Tribune she might "have to move in a different direction" if the team did not acquire better players.
Reese, a two-time WNBA All-Star, said earlier in the week, "I’m not settling for the same s--- we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a nonnegotiable for me." The Sky suspended Reese for a half, citing comments deemed "detrimental to the team," after the Tribune interview. That team suspension followed a one-game ban for receiving an eighth technical foul.
Speaking on her "Show Me Something" podcast, Cunningham said she understood the frustration tied to a losing season but warned against public critiques that could divide teammates. "That's not great. I get when you're losing, and it's been a frustrating season, everyone is feeling those emotions," she said. "There's just some things that you can't say. You can have those with the front office, you can have those conversations behind closed doors, but to say it in media is kind of brutal."
Cunningham, who plays alongside Reese for the Chicago Sky, added that she considers herself "very team-first" and that players should place the team ahead of personal feelings. "You gotta protect your locker room. You can't be saying everything you're feeling because that's not a good look. And then your teammates feel a certain way, that causes division in the locker room," she said.
Reese later walked back her comments and apologized to the team after Wednesday's win over the Connecticut Sun, according to team statements. Her on-court production this season includes averages of 14.7 points and a league-leading 12.6 rebounds, but Chicago has struggled collectively and sits at 10-33, the second-worst record in the WNBA.
The Sky's front office has not publicly outlined further disciplinary measures beyond the halftime suspension. Team leaders and coaches have declined extensive comment, saying they prefer to handle internal matters privately while focusing on the remainder of the season.
The exchange highlights tensions within a franchise wrestling with performance and personnel decisions. Public disagreements among teammates have occurred across professional sports as losing records increase scrutiny on roster construction and leadership. The Sky entered the season with rebuilding questions, and Reese's public call for improved personnel drew attention to those long-running concerns.
Cunningham's remarks underscore a common approach favored by organizations: address roster and personnel issues internally rather than through media channels. Reese's apology suggested she acknowledged that public comments can have repercussions for team cohesion, even as she maintained her desire for roster upgrades.
Chicago's remaining schedule will test whether the team can stabilize locker-room dynamics while preparing for offseason decisions on personnel. For now, the Sky are navigating the fallout of public criticism from within their own locker room as they close out a difficult campaign.
