“Angel Reese, Brianna Turner, and the WNBA’s Superteam Era: Indiana Fever’s Ruthless Rise Leaves Chicago Staggered”
The WNBA offseason just dropped a plot twist worthy of a Netflix finale. The Indiana Fever have signed veteran forward Brianna Turner—formerly of the Chicago Sky—and set off a firestorm of reactions from fans, players, and rivals alike. But no one felt it more than Angel Reese, who watched yet another piece of her team walk out the door and into the arms of Caitlin Clark’s rapidly assembling army.
This wasn’t just a free agency move. It was a declaration of war.
Turner’s departure from Chicago, where she had started nearly every game of her career until last season, hit Reese like a ton of bricks. The moment the news broke, Reese jumped on social media with a now-viral quote: “Oh, so this what we doing now?” complete with a meme-worthy side-eye. Then came the kicker: “Guess loyalty expired like milk.” And just like that, the drama was served hot—Reese wasn’t just responding, she was cooking.
The Indiana Fever, meanwhile, made no apologies. They’d been criticized for their quiet approach during the early stages of free agency, but what fans didn’t see coming was the storm they were about to unleash. Within a 24-hour window, Indiana re-signed Kelsey Mitchell to a max contract, traded for Sophie Cunningham, brought back Natasha Howard, and now added Brianna Turner. Sprinkle in the league’s most talked-about rookie in Caitlin Clark and a foundational All-Star in Aliyah Boston, and you don’t have a team—you have a dynasty in the making.
Let’s be honest: the Fever are building a superteam. And they aren’t even trying to hide it.
Brianna Turner’s addition gives Indiana a defensive anchor—one who, for all her shortcomings in Chicago’s offensive system, was among the most efficient bigs in the league when she did take shots. Her defensive IQ and length will be invaluable, especially alongside Boston, who is already one of the league’s premier interior presences. Yet Turner’s move wasn’t about stats—it was symbolic. She left a crumbling franchise in Chicago to join a team that’s clearly going all-in around Caitlin Clark.
And it’s that symbolism that has Angel Reese fuming.
Chicago Sky fans were already reeling. The franchise missed the playoffs last season, and aside from drafting Reese and signing Marina Mabrey and Dana Evans, they’ve made minimal progress in building a true contender. Now, they’ve lost one of their few dependable post defenders, and their frontcourt looks paper-thin next to Indiana’s skyscraper rotation.
Reese, for her part, doubled down on loyalty: “I love it here, and we’re going to be just fine.” But “fine” didn’t get Chicago anywhere last season, and with the rest of the league stacking talent like Jenga blocks, “fine” might just be a fast track to the lottery.
The reality? The Sky look like a group project missing half its group. They have heart, but no game-changer. They’ve got charisma, but no proven closer. And now, they’re watching from the sidelines as the Indiana Fever hijack the narrative.
It wasn’t long ago that Asia Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces were considered the standard-bearers of talent consolidation. But now? Even Wilson is reportedly keeping an eye on Indiana’s sudden transformation. If Clark was the catalyst, Stephanie White—the Fever’s head coach—is the chemist, stirring this concoction into something explosive. She’s not playing the long game. She’s playing to win now.
White understands the assignment. She sees Clark not just as a rookie, but as a generational player. No easing her into the system. No “wait and see.” Clark has the green light, and White is making sure she’s surrounded by scorers, veterans, defenders, and trash-talkers alike.
That’s where players like Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson come in. They bring toughness, grit, and chemistry—the type of intangibles that don’t always show up on a stat sheet but win championships in June. Add in DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard, both with title-winning experience, and suddenly this Fever team has balance, poise, and veteran backbone.
Meanwhile, Chicago is left in limbo. No real free-agent splash. No franchise-defining trades. And no clear plan to contend in a league that is increasingly unforgiving to teams who don’t move with urgency. While Indiana builds like the 2010s Warriors, Chicago is hoping for magic.
But Angel Reese? She’s not ready to be counted out just yet. Say what you will—she thrives off being the underdog. If her response to the Turner news is any indicator, she’s internalized the slights and is already plotting her revenge. The question isn’t whether Reese will fight. It’s whether she’ll have any backup when the battle begins.
This offseason has made one thing clear: the WNBA is no longer just growing—it’s transforming into a full-blown drama-fueled, high-stakes, player-powered league where every signing feels like a chess move. And Indiana just yelled “checkmate.”
Reese will continue to talk her talk. And maybe, just maybe, she’ll walk the walk come playoff time. But as it stands, Caitlin Clark and the Fever aren’t just aiming for a postseason berth—they’re looking to hoist a banner. The league’s silent rebuilders just flipped the switch.
Because the Fever didn’t come to participate.
