Like any protective mother, Angel Reese’s mom stepped forward to defend her daughter after hearing comments she did not appreciate from Annie Costabile. On Wednesday, September 3, Angel Webb Reese took to her X account to express her feelings publicly.

Reese’s mother provided no further context for her post, but fans immediately connected it to Costabile, a journalist with Front Office Sports, who recently shared a controversial take involving the Chicago Sky star.

The controversy sparked by Annie Costabile’s post

Earlier this week, Costabile posted on social media about an article by Julie Poe published in the Chicago Tribune. The piece addressed comments Angel Reese allegedly made about her teammates and her dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the team.

According to the article, Reese had expressed frustration, suggesting that the team needed better players. She reportedly voiced her opinions about the guard position and the team’s rotation strategy. Furthermore, Reese allegedly singled out Courtney Vandersloot, questioning whether the veteran could return to peak form after suffering an ACL injury earlier in the season, especially given her age

The criticism didn’t stop there. Costabile, citing the article, reported that Reese also doubted Rachel Banham’s and Hailey Van Lith’s ability to lead the team to the postseason.

Such comments, according to Costabile, did not sit well with the Chicago Sky’s veteran players and sparked tension within the locker room. She added,

There is a belief among some sources that Reese’s future in Chicago may not be reparable.

Following the team’s victory over the Connecticut Sun, Reese addressed her teammates directly, apologizing and claiming her statements had been taken out of context.

The Chicago Sky suspends Angel Reese for half a game

The situation escalated on Friday when the Chicago Sky released an official statement announcing that Reese would be suspended for half a game for making comments deemed “detrimental to the team.” The franchise emphasized that the matter would be handled internally.

As a result, Reese will miss the first half of Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aces.

This comes on the heels of another setback. In Friday’s game against the Indiana Fever, Reese was unable to play after accumulating her eighth technical foul of the season, which triggered an automatic one-game suspension. Now, with the additional penalty, she will be sidelined for part of the following game as well.

While the Chicago Sky have already been eliminated from playoff contention, this controversy does little to foster stability or optimism heading into the 2026 season.

The uncertainty surrounding Angel Reese’s role with the franchise only deepens the intrigue. It remains unclear whether she will remain with the Sky next year or if this conflict will ultimately lead to a separation between the rising star and the organization.