French star forward Gabby Williams politely turned down Angel Reese’s offer to once again play for the Chicago Sky, the team that selected her in the 2018 WNBA Draft
Gabby Williams isn’t interested in returning to the Chicago Sky any time soon – even despite a social media pitch from star rookie Angel Reese.
On Sunday, Williams nearly propelled France to a massive upset win over Team USA in the women’s basketball final at the Paris Olympics, recording 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in Les Blues’ 67-66 loss. In the closing second of the contest, she appeared to cash the game-tying 3-pointer, but her foot was positioned on the line.
The dominant performance nonetheless caught the attention of many fans who have called for her to be rewarded with a return to the WNBA. It also caught the attention of Reese, who swiftly took to X to try and recruit Williams to play for the Sky.
“Ok now that the game is over, would you like to be apart of the chicago sky again???” she wrote before adding: “(thought it wouldn’t hurt to try lmaoo).”
Though Williams seemed open to teaming up with Reese, she had no desire to play alongside her in Chicago. “Orrrrrr we could just play together for a différent organization,” the 27-year-old replied, prompting a long sigh and smiling emoji with a tear from Reese.
It seems as though there’s still no love lost between Williams and the Sky, who selected her with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. The forward spent the next three seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in May of 2021.
Just days before the deal went through, the Sky placed Williams on the full-season suspended list after then-head coach and general manager James Wade argued Chicago wasn’t a “priority” for the player.
Angel Reese attempted to recruit Gabby Williams to come play for the Chicago Sky ( Image: Getty Images)
Initially unbeknown to Wade and the Sky top brass, Williams was planning on representing France in the Olympics and EuroBasket Women. She was subsequently forced to serve the irreversible suspension, missing the entire 2021 WNBA season.
There still appears to be bad blood between Williams and the Sky, even though Wade departed the organization for a position with the Toronto Raptors in 2023. “They did me dirty girl but i am still you’re biggest fan,” she told Reese.
The LSU-product understood where Williams’ resentment came from, responding: “Them folks not here nomore but ok ok i get it. Thank you sistergirl! see you soon!”
Williams was later traded to the Storm in 2022, appearing in 46 games for Seattle over two seasons. She has since taken her talents overseas, appearing in several international leagues before most recently signing with the Turkish team Fenerbahçe S.K.
Speaking to The Next last July, Williams divulged better pay overseas is one of the reasons why she doesn’t play in the WNBA. “I would love to be in the WNBA because it’s the best league in the world for women’s basketball, the most competitive, the highest skill level, and it’s not even close,” she said.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the most. So I am happy to have other options to provide for me and my family.”
