The Chicago Sky’s season, already turbulent, has taken another dramatic turn — and this time it’s Angel Reese squarely in the middle of the storm. The rookie phenom, celebrated for her rebounding grit and polarizing personality, is now under fire not from rivals across the WNBA, but from her own extended basketball “family.”

Angel McCoughtry, the Sky legend, and Sophie Cunningham, one of the league’s most vocal enforcers, have both unleashed sharp criticism toward Reese after allegations that she is “drowning” her teammates with her overwhelming persona and playstyle.

The drama began when whispers surfaced that Reese’s relentless energy and constant media spotlight were creating cracks in the Sky locker room. For some fans, it’s a natural consequence of a rookie becoming a cultural sensation overnight.

But for veterans, it’s starting to feel like a distraction. McCoughtry, who helped lay the foundation for the Sky’s competitive culture, reportedly confronted Reese publicly, suggesting that leadership means elevating teammates, not overshadowing them. Her critique, couched in tough-love language, carried the weight of someone who has worn the Sky jersey in its most defining moments.

Sophie Cunningham added fuel to the fire with her trademark bluntness. Known for her sharp tongue and refusal to hold back, Cunningham took aim at Reese in postgame comments that immediately went viral. “It’s not about drowning your own teammates so you can swim,” she quipped, an unmistakable jab at the Sky rookie. The remark spread like wildfire across X and TikTok, sparking debates about whether Cunningham was speaking truth or just stoking drama.

For Reese, this is a defining moment. Her bold personality and unapologetic brand have made her one of the most talked-about players in sports, but that attention also paints a target on her back. Every misstep, every criticism, gets magnified.

What Cunningham and McCoughtry have done is bring the private grumblings of veterans into the public square, creating a narrative that Reese isn’t just a polarizing figure for fans — she’s a point of tension within her own team.

The Sky organization now finds itself in a precarious position. On one hand, Reese is their brightest young star, a marketing dream, and a player capable of shaping the franchise’s future.

On the other hand, team chemistry matters, and no amount of rebounding can paper over a locker room divided. If Reese’s teammates feel drowned out — whether by her play, her personality, or the media frenzy she attracts — it could undermine the Sky’s ability to build around her.

This controversy also fits into a larger WNBA story: the clash between the league’s rising, marketable stars and the veterans who have spent years grinding in relative obscurity. Reese’s fame and sponsorships far outpace those of many seasoned players, which naturally breeds resentment.

Cunningham’s barbs and McCoughtry’s warnings tap into that underlying tension. For many veterans, Reese represents not just a teammate but a symbol of the new order, where cultural cachet sometimes outweighs experience or production.

At the same time, Reese has proven resilient in the face of criticism before. She thrives on proving people wrong, using every slight — real or perceived — as fuel. The question is whether she can channel this latest wave of backlash into on-court dominance that silences doubters, or whether the weight of veteran criticism begins to crack her confidence and strain her relationship with teammates.

Either way, this storyline is not going away. As long as Angel Reese commands headlines and her personality continues to stir debate, every word from veterans like McCoughtry and Cunningham will echo louder than the last. For fans, it’s another dramatic twist in a WNBA season already packed with tension. For the Sky, it’s a crisis point: will they rally behind their rookie star, or will the storm of criticism drown them from within?