Forward Angel Reese was at the heart of the Chicago Sky’s troubled season, which ended with more questions than answers. In addition to becoming the franchise’s face, the star, who averaged a double-double in her debut season, had also come under fire. After weeks of public animosity between Reese and the company, her choice to forgo the team’s voluntary leave interview has stoked rumors about her future in Chicago.
Although Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins also chose not to participate in the session with veterans, Angel Reese’s absence garnered the most notice.
The Chicago Sky had one of the poorest records in the league at the end, and Reese had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s direction and squad.
Late in the season, she was even suspended for remarks that were considered “detrimental,” highlighting the widening gap between the athlete and the team. Her choice to skip the exit interview merely fueled trade speculations that were already circulating.
Young stated: “If you’re a professional and you want us to treat you like a professional, be a professional and do the exit interview,”
Although they are optional, exit interviews provide athletes a chance to talk to the media, reflect on the season, and set the tone for the offseason. Players might avoid awkward questions by avoiding them, but they run the danger of coming across as uninterested in the process.
