The scoreboard didn’t matter as much that night.
The Chicago Sky had just wrapped up another hard-fought battle in what has been a challenging start to the season. With frustration still lingering in the air and reporters circling for quotes, it was Angel Reese—not a veteran, not a coach, not a front office voice—who stepped up and delivered a statement that instantly lit a fire across the WNBA landscape.
“If you’re not with us when we’re 2-6, don’t be with us when we’re 9-35!” she declared, standing with a mix of defiance and pride in front of Sky fans inside Wintrust Arena.
It was more than just a quote. It was a manifesto.
In just ten words, Reese captured the emotional tension of a franchise in transition, the weight of expectation on young stars in a growing league, and the cultural shift happening right before our eyes in women’s basketball.
This was never just about a record. It was about loyalty, process, and the kind of faith that can’t be bought with a box score.
The Context: A New Era of the Sky
The 2025 season for the Chicago Sky has been a test of patience, resilience, and identity. After significant roster changes in the offseason—including the arrival of rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso—the team came into the year with hype, hope, and headlines. But early growing pains were inevitable.
A 2-6 start isn’t what fans were hoping for. Yet anyone closely watching the team can see this is a group in the middle of foundational change. There’s raw talent, but also inexperience. There’s ambition, but also chemistry to be built. It’s a team being constructed brick by brick, possession by possession.
In other words, this is what rebuilding looks like.
But in today’s sports landscape—fueled by social media hot takes and highlight reels—the average fan doesn’t always have the patience for that process. Some are ready to jump ship at the first sign of struggle. Angel Reese made it clear she sees those people—and she’s not here to perform for them.
Angel Reese: Building Her Legacy in Real Time
Reese’s journey to the WNBA is one of the most documented in recent memory. From her rise as a star at LSU, to becoming a national champion, to embracing the spotlight with unapologetic confidence, she’s never shied away from speaking her mind.
That same voice, once considered polarizing by some, is now proving to be a crucial part of changing the culture in professional women’s sports.
Her quote at the arena wasn’t just about basketball—it was a reflection of her philosophy. She doesn’t want performative support. She wants fans who are in for the journey, who will celebrate the wins and withstand the losses, because they believe in the bigger picture.
In many ways, her statement echoes the same fire that made Kobe Bryant a legend, that gave Michael Jordan his edge, that makes Draymond Green both hated and respected. It’s competitive DNA—refined by adversity and fueled by loyalty.
And she’s right. If you’re not with them when they’re 2-6, why should you get to claim them at 9-35—or beyond?
Culture vs. Convenience: The Fan Dilemma
The real power in Reese’s message lies in what it demands of fans. In a moment where the WNBA is experiencing unprecedented visibility, new audiences are arriving—some curious, some skeptical, and many simply drawn by the gravity of new stars like Reese, Caitlin Clark, and JuJu Watkins.
But popularity isn’t the same as commitment. Following a team when they’re winning is easy. Sticking with them when they’re rebuilding? That’s where culture is tested.
Chicago is still recovering from its 2021 championship hangover. Several key players from that title run are gone. The system has shifted. And fans are being asked not just to wait, but to invest emotionally in what comes next.
That takes time. And that takes honesty—from the organization, from the players, and from the fanbase. Reese’s words don’t just serve as a defense against early criticism. They’re a direct challenge to the city of Chicago: Are you really riding with this team, or are you only showing up for the champagne?
The Pressure Cooker of the Modern WNBA
Angel Reese isn’t just a rookie—she’s a media magnet. Everything she says is amplified. Every facial expression becomes a meme. Every loss is seen as a referendum on her brand.
And yet, she continues to embrace the responsibility of leadership—not by sugarcoating reality, but by leaning into it.
Her statement comes at a time when women’s basketball is experiencing both its greatest growth and its most intense scrutiny. From packed arenas to national TV deals to NIL-era personalities crossing into celebrity territory, the game is exploding.
But with that exposure comes a cost. Young stars are now asked to carry the weight of representation, responsibility, and relevance, all while trying to adapt to the most competitive league in the world. That pressure can break people—or it can forge something greater.
Reese, for all her confidence, clearly understands what’s at stake. Her message wasn’t just for Chicago—it was for every WNBA fan who’s here because of the buzz but may not yet understand the grind.
The Road Ahead
Whether or not the Sky finish 9-35 is almost irrelevant. Reese’s quote wasn’t about an actual record—it was about a mentality. A refusal to let early losses define the team’s long-term value.
The truth is, this team is not built to win a championship this year. And that’s okay. What they are building is a culture of toughness, authenticity, and accountability. Those things don’t show up on ESPN graphics. But they matter.
Reese’s leadership, even in her rookie season, is unmistakable. She’s already setting a tone that veterans often take years to establish. She’s using her platform not just to promote herself, but to demand more—from fans, from media, and from the league.
Final Word: Loyalty Is Loud
“If you’re not with us at 2-6, don’t be with us at 9-35.”
It’s not just a viral quote. It’s a call to action.
Angel Reese is making it clear: this team doesn’t want conditional fans. They want believers. People who show up even when the lights aren’t bright, even when the numbers look ugly, even when it’s easier to root for someone else.
That kind of loyalty is rare. But it’s also what turns struggling teams into champions. Just ask the 1990s Bulls. Just ask the pre-dynasty Warriors. Just ask any team that’s ever had to start from the bottom.
The Sky aren’t there yet—but they’re coming. And Angel Reese is making sure that when they do arrive, no one forgets who was there from the beginning.
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