Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson weren’t just teammates at LSU, they were like sisters during that unforgettable 2023 title run. We once received a perfect glimpse of it on the Amazon Prime docuseries that follows LSU Tigers athletes during the 2023–24 season. In The Money Game: LSU, Flau’jae and Reese could be seen side by side in the locker room. Laughing, hugging, and hyping each other up after a big win. Then, remember how, for FJ, every Reese win was a win for the team?
When Angel Reese got drafted into the WNBA, Johnson could’ve easily shed a tear or five. As soon as Reese’s name was called, Johnson felt like she was the one walking across that stage, emotions bubbling over like a soda can shaken too hard. “Fired up,” “proud,” and just plain happy—she felt it all. “When her name got called, I felt like it was a win for everybody. I was so proud of her, I told her congratulations,” Johnson shared with Kevin Hart on NBA Unplugged. But fast forward less than a year, and things have changed. What went so wrong, so fast?
Apparently, it took only a month as their mothers turned the comment section into a battleground. It began when Reese’s mother, Angel Webb Reese, took a shot at Johnson’s mother for typing out texts with grammatical errors. “Folks pls do not send me long text msgs with a bunch of grammatical errors it gives me a headache,” Webb wrote. “How do I know you said what you said if I can’t understand what you’re saying?”
Brooks, not one to hold back either, responded with a comment that must have stung. “You definitely know about grammar errors when your daughter got a 2.0 or less GPA. And in fact when writing your smart message you didn’t capitalize nor did you use any periods,” Brooks said. Then, last year, in September, Reese confirmed the fallout, saying, “I still support Flau’jae. We aren’t as close as we used to be.” And Flau’jae echoed the same. However, recently, Johnson took her statement a notch higher and said something shocking.
Flau’jae hinted at that, too.“It was a lot of locker room stuff like you know what I’m saying stuff that go on behind the scenes,” she said. This comment comes at a time when people have been anticipating Johnson’s arrival in the Chicago Sky squad. As Colin Salao of FOS had chimed in, saying, “The Sky are going to need another perimeter creator in the 2026 draft. Are we going to start talking about how Flau‘jae Johnson will be available for the Sky to just create the 2023–24 LSU roster”.
Fair to say that those hopes might have to rest for the time being. Especially now, when Sky is making history in the worst manner possible, and everyone is pointing to locker room concerns.
Their home turf, where the Sky made history with their 2021 title, hosted All-Star moments, and packed stands chanting for Kahleah Copper, saw something ugly this time. That night against the Fever at United Center marked Chicago’s lowest scoring total since 2011. It even tied for the fifth-lowest in franchise history. With just 52 points on the box score, the Sky didn’t just lose to the Indiana Fever, they lost within themselves.
The lack of chemistry echoed in every missed shot, mistimed pass, and blank stare on the bench. And to fix that, the Sky will need more than timeouts and film sessions. They’ll need truth, real conversations, and full accountability behind the scenes. Because no amount of talent or tunnel fits can substitute for trust. And with their floor general gone, the clock is ticking faster than ever.
Can the Chicago Sky stop the sky from falling?
The Chicago Sky’s second matchup of the season with the Indiana Fever came crashing down. Less than five minutes in, veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot drove to the basket and suddenly collapsed in pain, clutching her right knee. As staff hurried to shield her with towels and teammates surrounded her with concern, it was clear: this wasn’t just a minor bump. Minutes later, Vandersloot was helped to the locker room, officially ruled out before most fans had even settled into their seats.
Rookie head coach Tyler Marsh had emphasized mental toughness this season, specifically, not letting bad offense seep into defense. But once Vandersloot went down, that philosophy hit the floor, too. The Sky couldn’t find their rhythm on either end. They shot a dismal 32.1% from the field and just 20% from deep, which, frankly, made the rim look like it had held a “no entry” sign to their faces.
The Fever, despite being without their superstar Caitlin Clark and head coach Stephanie White, were unbothered. They zipped the ball around with ease, dishing out 20 assists on 27 makes. Four players hit double digits, and by the time the third quarter ended, Indiana was up by 29. Somewhere on the bench, the Sky’s confidence was likely icing its own knee.
The onus now is on Tyler Marsh. How does he plan to climb out of this pit?
The post Angel Reese’s Former Teammate Raises Locker Room Red Flag As Chicago Sky Equals Unwanted Record In Indiana Fever Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.
