The Chicago Sky announced the signing of Marquesha Davis to a seven-day hardship contract on Tuesday morning as they seek to bolster their roster during the playoff push. Davis, previously with the New York Liberty, saw limited playing time this season before being waived last week.
Angel Reese, the Sky’s forward, expressed enthusiasm on social media following the announcement, writing, “Let’s get it Q!” as a welcome to her new teammate.
Marquesha Davis’s Background and College Rivalry with Angel Reese
Davis is no stranger to Reese, as the two crossed paths during their college careers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Davis, an accomplished guard, played for Arkansas and later Ole Miss, while Reese starred for LSU.
In 2024, Davis scored 21 points in a conference tournament loss to Reese’s LSU Tigers after putting up a career-high 33 points in an earlier quarterfinals game against Florida. Over her five college seasons, Davis earned All-SEC honors by averaging 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game.
The New York Liberty selected Davis with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, four slots after the Sky picked Reese. However, Davis has struggled to find consistent minutes in the professional ranks.
Limited Professional Opportunities for Davis Ahead of New Chapter
While Reese has established herself as a key player for Chicago, Davis has only appeared sparingly in WNBA games. She averaged just 3.8 minutes across 29 contests for the Liberty this season and posted totals of 32 points and 15 rebounds. Her most recent game came on July 6, when she scored three points in a loss to the Seattle Storm.
Davis also briefly came off the bench in two decisive victories over the Sky earlier this season.
Sky’s Current Challenges and Playoff Aspirations
The Sky entered the league’s midseason break with a 7-15 record, following losses to the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream. Ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Lynx at the Target Center, Chicago was dealing with key injuries: Ariel Atkins sidelined with a leg injury and Onyenwere out with a knee issue.
Due to these shortages, Chicago signed Davis on a hardship contract that will last until the team has at least 10 healthy players again, at which point they must either release her or convert her deal to a standard contract.
The Lynx remain undefeated at home in 2025, making Tuesday’s game a challenging test for the Sky.
Implications of the New Signing for Chicago’s Season Outlook
Adding Marquesha Davis provides the Chicago Sky with additional depth at guard as they navigate injuries and aim to improve their standing. Angel Reese’s welcoming message highlights the team’s hope that Davis can contribute meaningfully during this crucial stretch.
How Davis adapts to her new environment and whether she secures a longer-term role will be important factors in Chicago’s efforts to return to playoff contention. The upcoming weeks will reveal if this short-term addition can make a lasting impact on the Sky’s fortunes.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What caused Angel Reese’s injury?
A. “I landed on my hand during the play that earned me an and-1. When I fell back, I hurt my hand, and there’s a minor bone fracture,” Reese explained in a TikTok video posted late Sunday night. “The doctors advised that I could choose between having surgery or skipping it.”
Q. Did Angel Reese get a degree?
A. Reese completed her studies in interdisciplinary subjects at Louisiana State University and focused on communications at the University of Maryland, College Park. At LSU, she earned a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on Communication Studies, Leadership Development, and Psychology.
Q. What caused Angel Reese’s wrist injury?
A. Reese explained in a TikTok video posted Sunday night that she injured her hand when she fell backward after making a basket. She mentioned that doctors found a small crack in the bone.
Q. What did Angel Reese’s parents do?
A. Basketball is a family tradition for Angel because both of her parents played the sport during their college years. Her mother continued to play professionally in Luxembourg after college. Angel said her mom taught her to be independent and strong, sharing this in a January 2023 interview with Just Women’s Sports.