Angel Reese Shades Her Very Own Sky & The Aces Rise From the Dead | Alley Oop | Ep 20

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz — "Angel Reese Shades Her Very Own Sky & The Aces Rise From the Dead" | Alley Oop | Ep 20

Date: September 9, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Trista Crick, Juju

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Episode Overview

This episode of Alley Oop dives deep into recent drama and developments in the WNBA, focusing notably on Angel Reese’s candid comments about her team, the Chicago Sky, and the subsequent fallout. The conversation broadens to issues of team management, culture, and player empowerment, before shifting to celebrate the Las Vegas Aces’ remarkable winning streak and anointing the Golden State Valkyrie as the league’s surprise overachievers. In characteristic style, the hosts blend sharp analysis with humor, playful banter, and personal anecdotes, keeping the show lively and engaging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Angel Reese’s Candid Comments & Suspension (02:49–08:46)

• The hosts analyze Angel Reese’s recent interview, where she openly criticized the Chicago Sky’s roster and team-building efforts.
  • Angel Reese’s quote (via host, 02:55):

    "I'm not settling for the same shit we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. However, I can get the best here. That's what I'm going to do this offseason. I'd like to be here for my career, but if things don't pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what's best for me."

• Discussion on how such honesty, common among franchise stars in other leagues, is perceived differently—and often more harshly—in the WNBA.
• Trista calls out the Sky’s decision to suspend Reese for half a game as “just the most broken, dysfunctional, strange move” (03:13), characterizing the organization as planting “seeds of dysfunction and discord.”
• Angel’s critique of veteran Courtney Vandersloot is unpacked, including her statement about not wanting to rely on a 37-year-old coming off an ACL injury ("she also said everybody else behind her is not championship caliber, AKA my former teammate in Haley Van Lif." — Trista, 03:16).
• The hosts sympathize with Reese, seeing her outspokenness as justified given the team’s performance:
  • Juju (04:35):

    "We getting beat down every time, almost two times a week. We getting beat the hell out of, and I don't like it. I'm a superstar. I got my own shoe. I'm on 2K. I'm on the cover... So I can say I don't like it here sometimes."

• Ongoing frustration with the Sky’s ownership culture is highlighted, tying it back to systemic issues in the franchise (08:52).

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2. Culture & Double Standards (07:39–08:28)

• Trista raises the double standard between men’s and women’s sports regarding player criticism and mental health:
  • Trista (07:39):

    "Why can they do it in the men's game? And mental health doesn't matter in the men's game, but mental health matters in the women's game?"

• Juju suggests the Sky’s changes are little more than PR stunts:
  • Juju (08:09):

    "They just trying to send a message... it's PR stunts to me."

• Both agree that Angel Reese is being unfairly “muzzled” (08:24), and warn that continued discord may push her out of Chicago.

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3. Las Vegas Aces' Winning Streak & Culture Reset (09:35–12:05)

• Transitioning to the Las Vegas Aces, the hosts marvel at their turnaround, especially after a severe loss to the Minnesota Lynx:
  • Juju (09:52):

    "Listen, they played against the... the Minnesota Lynx. They lost by over 50, right?... And they haven't lost since."

  • Trista (11:16):

    "And they held Nafisa Collier to 12 points. That is the most impressive thing."

• Credit is given to coach Becky Hammon, notably for her bold move donning a pink wig and restoring the team’s swagger.
  • Trista (11:28):

    "Becky Hammond had the pink wig on last night. They got the swag back. They got Becky in the pink wig. Come on, you already know. She feeling herself."

• Discussion of how adversity served as a wake-up call and catalyst for the Aces’ unity and resurgence ("that 50 point loss was a wake up call..." — Trista, 11:39).

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4. Coach of the Year Debate & Golden State Valkyrie’s "Thrifting" Approach (12:05–15:47)

• Coach of the Year Observations:
  • The hosts unanimously praise Golden State Valkyrie’s “Lil Nat” (Coach Natalie) for transforming a team of castoffs into contenders:
    • Juju (12:13):

      "Nat. Nat. I give it to Nat crazy in Golden State."

    • Trista relaying Coach Nat's attitude (12:13):

      "That don't mean shit to me. Really. In fact, like, give it to the whole staff. But all I'm trying to do is compete for championships. I could give a damn."

  • Acknowledgement of the team's innovative roster construction, likening it to “thrifting”—finding unexpected value in overlooked players.
    • Juju (15:32):

      "You know what they are? The Golden State Valkyrie organization. They are great thrifters. They go to the thrift store and they find some shit. You'd be like, wait a second, when did they had this Wayne Gretzky."

  • The Valkyrie's players are described as “not the everyday chains you wear around your neck,” but assembled into a greater whole (13:29).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Angel Reese's Frustration with Sky (02:55):

  "I'm not settling for the same shit we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players... I'd like to be here for my career, but if things don't pan out... I might have to move in a different direction and do what's best for me."

• Trista on the double-standard (07:39):

  "Why can they do it in the men's game?... but mental health matters in the women's game?"

• Juju on being real as a superstar (04:35):

  "We getting beat down every time, almost two times a week. We getting beat the hell out of, and I don't like it. I'm a superstar... So I can say I don't like it here sometimes."

• Becky Hammon's pink wig as a symbol of confidence (11:28):

  "They got Becky in the pink wig. Come on, you already know. She feeling herself."

• Trista relaying Coach Nat's approach (12:13):

  "That don't mean shit to me. Really. In fact, like, give it to the whole staff. But all I'm trying to do is compete for championships. I could give a damn."

• Juju on Valkyrie's thrifty roster approach (15:32):

  "They are great thrifters. They go to the thrift store and they find some shit. You'd be like, wait a second, when did they had this Wayne Gretzky?"

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 02:49-08:46| Angel Reese’s interview, team culture, suspension | | 07:39-08:28| Double standards: WNBA vs NBA, mental health | | 09:35-12:05| Las Vegas Aces’ resurgence and team culture analysis | | 12:05-13:56| Coach of the Year debate: Natalie & Valkyrie’s success | | 13:56-15:47| Valkyrie's “thrifting” method, undervalued players |

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Tone and Style

• Playful, unfiltered banter: The hosts interrupt each other, exaggerate for comedic effect, and use slang, keeping the conversation direct and energetic.
• Genuine sports insight: Despite the humor, the analysis is keen and the passion for the game obvious.
• Open advocacy: Hosts support outspoken athletes, question outdated ownership, and champion new approaches (both in coaching and team management).

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This episode blends sharp, opinionated commentary with comedic exchanges, offering keen perspectives on ongoing shifts in WNBA culture—making it a must-listen for fans interested in both league drama and innovative team building.

Transcript

[A]

You know what they are? The Golden State Valkyrie organization. They are great thrifters. They go to the thrift store and they find some. You be like, wait a second. When did they have this? Wayne Gretzky.

[B]

Are these red bottoms right?

[A]

What the. Julius Irving. Dr. J signed. Welcome to another show of the alley. Oops. I'm joined by my big dog, Trista Crick. Come on. Tell me, folk, how you doing today?

[B]

We're here. We're everywhere. I need a ball and I'm getting kicked out of this room because apparently I talk too loud.

[A]

Oh, damn. Well, let's make this quick. Let's make this. Let's make this episode a very quick and silent one. Psych. Let's do it.

[B]

It's time for today's trends. How would you describe this tackle? I don't understand rugby really at. So I don't know how the rules go. And that's pretty much what I watch every time. I'm like, first of all, that's just beast. Like, that's the only woman on earth that could probably take down Derek Henry. Running full speed at you. But she. She gets.

[A]

I mean, hold on. I mean, come on, I'm talking. No, I got to interrupt you right there. That's not what she doing. She's not tackling no damn deer.

[B]

That's what. It's a joke. Juju. We speak. We speak in exaggerations here, okay? Those shoulders, those leg. I don't even know what those leg bands are for.

[A]

Look, they for running through somebody chest look like because, damn, this is my first time seeing it. Yeah. Salute to sis. What league is this?

[C]

It's the All Blacks, right? The one is the All Blacks. The other one I have. It's the only team.

[A]

I know what that mean. I know who I'm rooting for.

[B]

I had to. Somebody. I had to tell somebody the other day. Outside of this rugby team, you can't say blacks.

[A]

Nah, hell no.

[B]

Hell no. Tell them Jew. Like, someone was like, you know, the blacks be. And I said, I'm gonna stop you right there.

[A]

Right?

[C]

The minute you put an S on it. It's not good.

[B]

Come on. That's what I'm trying to. You can't. Can't pluralize the race unless you're talking about the whites. Really?

[A]

Exactly. You definitely can't say colors. Do not say colors. Colors should be removed from the crayons.

[C]

That's all.

[B]

Listen, Poc. What are my brothers and sisters. Okay, but no, you can't. The only blacks we're talking about is the all blacks. And I still get kind of a little queasy even saying that. I'm gonna be like, what'd you call them again?

[A]

Exactly. All blacks matter.

[C]

Okay, this was worth it just for that conversation. Here's this tweet from Angel.

[B]

Reese.

[C]

I'm not settling for the same shit we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. However, I can get the best here. That's what I'm going to do this offseason. I'd like to be here for my career, but if things don't pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what's best for me. What do you guys think about that?

[B]

I think this is just par for the course for any franchise star in any league. And the wnba, as much as I love them, that is just the most broken, dysfunctional, strange move to then go and say, oh, yeah, we know that you went on the record with Julia Poe from the Chicago Sun Times, a local paper, and we know that our team PR was right there and didn't stop you from saying any of your comments because they were just regular ass comments. But now we're going to suspend you for one half of basketball for conduct detrimental to the team because everybody's over here crying. And I don't know about you, Juju, but it feels like there's somebody in there sewing seeds of dysfunction and discord. And I'm not willing to say it's Courtney Vandersloot, but she was the only one that was mentioned by name being like, yo, we can't be rolling out a 37 year old coming off of an ACL. That cannot be our starting point guard. And also, for those who don't know, she also said everybody else behind her is not championship caliber, AKA my former teammate in Haley Van Lif.

[A]

Damn.

[B]

That's. That's facts.

[A]

They suspended the hell out of ass and then they suspended her for that first half, and then she sat out the second half because of her back hurt.

[B]

My bad. My bad. Something tweet.

[A]

I don't know, bro. It's a lot going on in Chicago, even though it's no wins going on. But at the same time, I. I agree. Like, it wasn't that egregious of a statement. We getting beat down every time, almost two times a week. We getting beat the hell out of, and I don't like it. I'm a superstar. I got my own shoe. I'm on 2K. I'm on the COVID Come on, man. So I can say I don't like it here sometimes if I don't happen to like it here, we want people to keep it real.

[B]

Also, let me read that Courtney Vander Sloot line because it's just a wild ass comment that she made.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Contrary to what people say or think, AKA Angel Reese, because you clapped back on this, my age is actually not a factor. I am coming back. And then she even said, I'm going to come back even better than ever. Oh yeah. How often do you tear an ACL at 37 and come back even better than you were pre ACL? Courtney Vandersloot, we know you're only in Chicago because your wife and child are there. We know you got the hell out of that bum ass organization to go get a ring with the New York Liberty. And the only reason you got a ring with the sky is because Candace Parker, one of the greatest players to ever face the earth of basketball, came back, came to Chicago for God knows reason. Probably just because of local love since she's from Chicago and you got a ring there as well. Do not act like Angel's the one out of pocket here. In fact, I think she's the one out of pocket to be like contrary what people say I'm back. It's like, well, we don't really even want you back. Know what I mean?

[A]

Ah, damn.

[B]

She just said, angel just said, I don't want us to be relying on a 37 year old coming off at ACL who was a bench player in New York City.

[A]

I mean, we got a key to respect on Salute doggy dog.

[B]

She's a great player, but she's my age.

[A]

I mean still. But she.

[B]

You be tippy toeing. This is how you get guests. Do you keep tippy toeing so that we can bring the guests on?

[A]

But at the same I do. I understand side of this because you losing. You see your counterparts. Caitlyn Clark, she got hurt in the fever in the damn playoffs. I hear Angel Reese loud and clear. I hear Salute doggy Dog loud and clear. I hear the Chicago sky loud and clear. Ain't nobody.

[B]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What do you hear from the Chicago sky? Loud and clear.

[A]

I hear. Look man, we understand you're the Barbie, but we got an organization to run. We can't just let you say certain stuff. This is the same stuff that got look Henry Hunter out of here last year. You feel me? Because she is fire. That's, that's one of the best players I ever seen in my entire life. But they moved on from her because of conduct detrimental. So I understand where they're coming from. You can't just let your superstar say stuff that may not hurt. You feel me? I.

[B]

Why can they do it in. Why can they do it in the men's game? And mental health doesn't matter in the men's game, but mental health matters in the women's game, and we can't have done.

[A]

Because, look, the men, they try to hide stuff like this. They run away from stuff like this. They don't tell you, bro, hurt that hurt my feelings or respond to each other in this manner. These women mo battle, they saying how they feel. They mean what they say.

[B]

Why do we have to suspend angel for saying the same thing that all the other star players say?

[A]

Because she was hurt any damn way. She wasn't gonna play these games. They just trying to send a message. You see the game, they said they suspended her from the first half. She ain't even played the second half when she could play. They know it's PR stunts to me. You feel me?

[B]

They're trying to muzzle our girl Angel. Reese. They're not going to be muzzling her.

[A]

Look, and they gonna look. They gonna muzzle ass right up out of Chicago if they keep playing. Because she no flash, she ain't got to resign there. She on a rookie deal. She can say, hey, I take less money, quote, unquote, less money than I'm getting from y' all anyway, and just take my talents, too.

[B]

What was that? What was that? Kelly Loeffler. What was that? Was that her name, man?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

It's giving Kelly Loeffler, like, change owners, change culture. So for those who aren't huge WNBA fans, that was the owner of juju's team, the Atlanta Dream, and they had to force her to sell a team because she was not only problematic politically, but she was a dumpster fire in terms of how she ran that squad. You get a new owner, you get a new ownership group, and now you. Now you're the number three, number two seed in all the wnba. This ownership group has been there in Chicago since the birth of the Chicago Sky. I think it's time we take a hard look at them, cuz. As long as they're there, things aren't changing.

[A]

You know who did build the airplane in the sky?

[B]

Who's that?

[A]

The Las Vegas Aces, bro.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

They built the damn jumbo jet in the sky, bro. They a second place in the entire W right now. How many? They don't want? 14. How many games in a row they won?

[B]

Listen, they played against the. The Minnesota Links. They lost by over 50, right?

[A]

They.

[B]

And they haven't lost since.

[A]

Come on, man. Becky woke them folks up. Let me see. They. They don't want. Yeah, they won 14 games in the damn road, bruh. Two against your Atlanta dream. Neither here nor there. Oh, them hurt. I can't lie. Them two losses hurt. But I knew they was gonna get it together, bro. I said on a couple early episodes, once they figure out the Gold Mamba situation, they gonna be all right. She said, you know what? Bring me off the bench and I figure it out.

[B]

You think she. You think that's that? That was her call.

[A]

Whoever called it was salute to you because you right. You're right. I don't know. She said, bring me out the bench.

[B]

But I don't think any. If Courtney Vandersloop Juju's out here saying, I'm coming back better than ever off of an ACL at 37.

[A]

Don't doubt. You see that? You down, you doubting.

[B]

You doubting, Jewel Lloyd's not saying, hey, I think I'd be better coming off the bench, bruh.

[A]

Be that as it may, it was a good ass move.

[B]

That's neither here nor there, right?

[A]

Them folk ran out 14 straight against great competition. They beat the Links ass the other night. They beat us. Like I say here, they were cheering more for Asia Wilson than goddamn us in Atlanta.

[B]

And they held Nafisa Collier to 12 points. That is the most impressive thing. And then Fisa Collier, defensive player of the year. What Asia put up on them girls, bro.

[A]

Becky Hammond had the pink wig on last night. They got the swag back. They got Becky in the pink wig. Come on, you already know. She. She feeling herself.

[B]

She wasn't with any of those shenanigans when they were one of the worst teams in the league and they were ninth. I think they were seventh in the league. Just flirting with missing the playoffs. There were no pink wigs. There were no outfits. It was white T shirt. Asia, people were out here talking. Whether Bam Adebayo was distracting from playing her best basketball. I think that 50 point loss was a wake up call. Like, yo, we are getting clowned right now.

[A]

Moving on. Coach of the year right now. Who do you got? I got Lil Nat.

[B]

I got Lil Nat, right?

[A]

Nat. Nat. I give it to Nat Crazy in Golden State.

[B]

You know what she said? She said, she's got. She's got swag. They said, hey, how do you feel about. How do you feel about being coach of the year? Or like, how would you feel if you want it? And she's like, that don't mean shit to me. Really. In fact, like, give it to the whole staff. But all I'm trying to do is compete for championships. I could give a damn. She literally said it just like that. I give like a little Bay Area like this face on it. You know what I mean? I was like, oh, shit, Natalie, I didn't even know you had it like that.

[A]

Right? Me neither. Coach of the year for sure. I like what my boy doing in Atlanta, but at the same time, that ain't that what we doing here. It ain't that first year inaugural season.

[B]

With a bunch of nobodies. No shade.

[A]

Come on, man.

[B]

No shade. No, no, no, we're not. No. Okay, let me just back it up. See, this is okay. We need to just know that. I just be saying okay, like, we just need to know. Come on.

[A]

Hayes. Tiffany. Hey, man, Beat somebody. Timmy Fat Bentley bit somebody, man. Kayla Thorne, big somebody.

[B]

Kayla Thornton. First of all, Kayla Thornton is done for the year, so.

[A]

But she that first. We can't just besmirch the first half of the season.

[B]

That's.

[A]

She's an all star.

[B]

Listen, Veronica Burton, she is discarded by the Dallas Wings. But what these players and Connecticut and Connecticut, these players weren't really starting caliber players on their respective franchises. That's why they got snatched. Like they are the chains in the jewelry box. They're not the everyday chains that you wear around your neck. Okay, so if they were chains that you wore every day around your neck, they wouldn't have gotten snatched off your neck. Okay?

[A]

So Tiffany Hayes had an offer to come back to the Aces and say, I'm going, going back, back to Cali Kelly.

[B]

Listen, that was not a good fit for her. I don't. I don't think the Aces was a great situation.

[A]

She was wet. She was the 6 player of the year.

[B]

No, no, no. I mean, moving forward, you get rid of Kelsey. You get rid of Kelsey Plum. They're starting to go through some changes. You got Jewel Lloyd there volunteering to come off the bench. Has a six. Man just counts on her. She's the one who asked to do it because she's such a good team player. No, but like all these, everybody in the W is really good. Like nobody's a scrub. But these were not like the marquee. I love Tammy Fag Benlay in Indiana last year. She was low key. Probably one of My favorite players to see get starting run when she did. But this is a collection of players that has been added together in a way where the hole is bigger than the individual parts. Like I said, everybody's good. But these weren't starting caliber players.

[A]

It's like Trigger one and Trigger Warning. Like a Suicide Squad, the movie. These are just people we pick from here, this criminal. But we need to save the world. And guess what? Will Smith has the dead eye. Yeah, for sure. For sure. I get what you're saying.

[B]

So no disrespect, they're not random. They're not not randoms. But it was like, we'll take. We'll take this random bag at your closet. We'll take these shoes out here. And it's like they've been. You got to wipe the dust off of them a little bit because they haven't been worn much.

[A]

Right. You know what they are? The Golden State Valkyrie organization. They are great thrifters. They go to the thrift store and they find some shit. You'd be like, wait a second, when did they had this Wayne Grisky.

[B]

Are these red bo, right?

[A]

What the Julius Irving Dr. J signed? Yeah, they did that. Oh, yeah, that. That. Salute. Coach of the year, hands down, in my opinion. But yeah, man, another great episode, man. My sister. I wouldn't be anything without you. And I also wouldn't be anything without these wonderful, beautiful listeners and subscribers, man. Thank y' all so much for subscribing. I don't take down one view. I don't take now one subscriber for granted, man. Thank y' all for keeping us a part of your life. Trust anything you want to say on the way out.

[B]

If you like these episodes, just subscribe to the YouTube page, comment, give us some feedback, give us what you like, what you don't like. Get into the conversation. Tell Juju that he's just way too much of an LA Sparks apologist and a Chicago sky apologist. And. And, like, we'll see you next week. It'll be freaking fun, right?

[A]

And if you hate me, come to the YouTube to say that. If you hate the sound of my voice, please leave that comment on the YouTube. Come on, man. Lock in. Thank y' all for listening. You dig us?