When Angel Reese walked onto the Wintrust Arena court Thursday for the final time this season, she was greeted — like always — with a resounding cheer.

This wasn’t anything new. Since the moment she was selected at No. 7 in the 2024 draft, Reese has driven a new wave of fandom and support to the Chicago Sky. But Thursday’s crowd took on a different tone and tenor.

Fans lofted signs that read “Free 5” and “Angel was right” and “Sell the team!” A fan wearing a homemade “Free Angel Reese” shirt sat in courtside seats on the baseline directly adjacent to the Sky bench for the second half. In the third quarter, a chant of “Fire Jeff” — calling for the removal of general manager Jeff Pagliocca — erupted from the section behind the Sky bench while Reese sat silent.

After the game — a 91-86 S

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