There is unrest within the Chicago Sky family, as their current superstar is apparently at odds with one of the franchise's retired legends.
In late July, Angel Reese took to X (formerly Twitter) to post that "clout is one helluva DRUG. like it really gets to a point," seemingly in response to Chicago legend Candace Parker. The timing of Reese's post was not coincidental, as it came after a clip of Parker went viral.
Less than a month later, the two were in the same building as the Sky were set to honor Parker with a jersey retirement ceremony at WinTrust Arena. And while active members of the Sky honored Parker with team-issued warm-up shirts, Reese's shirt was noticeably concealed by her warm-up jacket.
With the feud seemingly entering another chapter, here is what to know about the extended back-and-forth between Reese and Parker.
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Angel Reese-Candace Parker beef, explained
The Sky elected to honor Parker on Monday, Aug. 25, as they faced the Aces, one of her two other WNBA teams.
Ahead of tip-off, the WNBA shared a video of Chicago's player introductions. In it, Sky players are seen wearing white long-sleeve shirts that feature Parker's likeness on the front and her signature No. 3 on the back.
Noticeably, Michaela Onyenwere and Reese wore black jackets over their shirts; Onyenwere's jacket was unzipped to show Parker's likeness, while Reese's was fully zipped, with just the untucked portion of the white shirt visible underneath.
Let's hear it for your @chicagosky starting 5⃣!
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 26, 2025
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It may be much ado about nothing, though some fans suggested it may have been an act of defiance and Reese's response to a perceived callout a month prior.
On Monday, July 29, the official account for the "Post Moves" podcast hosted by Parker and Fever All-Star Aliyah Boston released a promotional clip on social media.
The post read "Oh we getting SPICY," and began with a clip of Parker saying "I in no way, shape or form, am a hater. … What player are you taking Angel Reese over? Of those that I just listed," and Boston looks on before quietly saying, "Guess we'll wait for their response."
Oh we getting SPICY 🤫 new episode tomorrow morning! pic.twitter.com/B1eeWVWA2D
— Post Moves (@PostMovesShow) July 29, 2025
With the original post going up at 6:57 p.m. ET, Reese posted her supposed response at 10:54 p.m., indicating it was a reaction to being mentioned for exposure.
Reese is also believed to have briefly shared a repost of someone who wrote, "I'd be mad too if a girl who was beautiful, rich, famous and well-liked among her peers comes in breaks my records, gets promotion/brand deals I couldn't get, and then has the audacity to steal my vet."
The post in question refers to Reese breaking Parker's records and developing a bond with Lisa Leslie, who was a veteran on the Los Angeles Sparks during Parker's incredible rookie season.
MORE: Fact-checking viral $1,400 quote from Angel Reese
More context from Parker's clip was provided when the full podcast was released on Wednesday, July 30, but the damage may have already been done. To begin, Parker's mention of Reese stemmed from a player tier ranking she gave during a sit-down with Complex Magazine earlier in the month.
Parker was given tiers 'S' (highest) through 'D' (lowest) and asked to rank Reese, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, and A'ja Wilson.
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The pushback came from Parker placing Reese in the 'C' tier, something she attempted to clarify during "Post Moves."
"We have to come to a place in women's basketball where we can critique without being a hater," Parker said. "I in no way, shape, or form am a hater."
She then went on to name the other nine players in the tier ranking, which is where the original clip began.
"What player are you taking Angel Reese over, of the ones that I just listed? This is no disrespect, these are some of the greatest players in the game right now. They asked me to rank the tier right now.
Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston podcast Post Moves clip
— ericaf455 (@ericaf455) July 30, 2025
Candace is explaining her Angel Reese tier ranking she was asked to do. I encourage everyone to watch the whole clip to fully understand what she’s saying before making comments and attacking her. pic.twitter.com/gzEEAxh8L1
"Do I think she could be up there? Yes. Do I think she could be at 'S' eventually in her career, and her evolution and what she's added in her game from her rookie season to now? Absolutely. Is she there now? No."
Parker has long held the belief that WNBA media should have more freedom in critiquing players, something she addressed during a 2020 podcast appearance with Collier and Wilson.
However honest her full assessment may have been, however, Reese has seemingly taken exception to the way the original clip left out important context and only used her name, strumming up engagement.