This week: I really hope the Chicago Sky social media team gets an extra month of paid vacation for having to deal with the how hard the internet has been dragging owner Michael Alter and General Manager Jeff Pagliocca.

Cause I bet they took their jobs hoping to help fuel the growth of the WNBA and women’s sports. Well, they certainly are - just not in the way they thought. While this city will never get over trading Angel Reese, we should also acknowledge that the uproar is also indicative of how much the sport has grown. This is one hell of a growing pain.

— Veronica

The internet has been on fire discussing and trying to figure out WTF the Chicago Sky would trade their All-Star player. Here are just two of the many out there.

WNBA should be embarrassed by Chicago Sky owner, Michael Alter needs to sell by Nancy Armour: I was applauding Armour and all I did was read the headline. Once you get in, you’ll be nodding along, cheering at your screen, and feeling so seen.

“Except for Sky fans, who saw ticket prices double between 2024 and 2025 and have to be wondering exactly what they’re getting in return.” Armour wrote in response to Pagliocca’s statement that the trade "represents a great opportunity for all parties.”

“Beg Ariel Investments CEO Mellody Hobson, who still lives in Chicago and has been seen at Sky games, to buy the team.” I have heard fans jeer Alter to sell the team and cheer on Hobson to buy it. Heaven knows she and her husband, George Lucas, have enough money to get it done.

By the way, it was adorable and powerful to watch Lucas be a plus one to Hobson last season. They sat court side and Hobson was moving in a manner that suggests “big business talk at the Sky game,” while Lucas took in the game. Chicago didn’t give him the lakefront for the Star Wars museum, but we definitely want his wife to buy the Sky.

Angel Reese’s trade another example of Chicago Sky’s inability to hold onto stars by Shakeia Taylor: I’ve said this newsletter will tackle lore. Well friends, pull up a chair cause Taylor outlines the Chicago Sky lore of jettisoning star after star. It’s hard to read and be reminded of all the talent that this franchise can’t seem to or perhaps want to hold on to. It makes one wonder how much baby Vanderquig factored into Sloot coming home to Chicago versus the actual team.

A failing grade: My FYP is just reel after reel of sports creators, not even just women’s sports creators, mocking the Sky. There is the mock up of the dollar store decorations for Nneka’s visit to Chicago. There are report cards with a big F for Chicago and A+ for Atlanta. People are debating if this is the worst trade in all of Chicago sports history. Babe’s Now that there are rumors of a trade to get Rickea I’ve seen everything, but a Whoopi Goldberg video telling Rickea (whom I really had hoped we drafted) that she’s in danger, girl.

Then there is Babe’s who threw Angel a goodbye party AND asked fans to bring Sky gear they no longer want. AND suggests we pick a new team to root for.

After a busier than normal week in Chicago women’s sports, this weekend is a well-earned quiet one.

The Stars: No matches this weekend for our Stars, but we do have three USWNT matches against Japan over the next week. There is a goddess and she loves us.

Mal is still working her way back from maternity leave, so the USWNT only gets a double espresso. Creating a human in your body is hard work. She’ll be back when she is ready and we are looking forward to it. I have no fantasies about what the Stars will do this season, so for Mal, my eye is on the 2027 World Cup and hopefully another Star - this time, gold.

The Winds: It’s Bye week. Meaning the team has the weekend off. And we have a weekend to buy a ticket to one of the two remaining home games.

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