Angel Reese’s outstanding rookie season with the Chicago Sky has come to an unexpected conclusion.
On Saturday, Reese announced that she would be sidelined for the remainder of the WNBA season due to a “season-ending injury.” While she did not specify the nature of the injury or when it occurred, the Sky confirmed that she sustained a wrist injury during the team’s 92-78 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.
Reese shared her thoughts in a statement on social media, saying, “What a year. I’m filled with emotions right now that I have a season ending injury, but also filled with so much gratitude for what is next. Although this is God’s timing and not mine, I am finally able to give myself a physical and mental break.”
During the game against the Sparks, Reese had an impressive performance, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, marking her 26th double-double of the season out of 34 games. She connected on 9-of-15 shots from the field and made 1-of-3 attempts from beyond the arc, including a pivotal 3-pointer with 3:20 left in the contest.
“I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2,” Reese remarked.
Concluding her rookie campaign, Reese leaves a significant mark in the league. She averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, leading the league in both total rebounds (13.1) and offensive rebounds per game (5.1). She also set a new WNBA record for the most rebounds in a single season with 446. Her 15-game streak of double-doubles is the longest since Candace Parker’s 12 consecutive games from 2009 to 2010. Additionally, Reese was named a WNBA All-Star and registered a double-double in a victory over the U.S. women’s national basketball team.
As of Tuesday, Reese was ranked No. 2 in USA TODAY Sport’s WNBA Rookie of the Year power rankings.
Through her journey, Reese expressed, “Through it all, I have showed that I belong in this league even when no one else believed. All I have ever wanted was to come into the W and make an impact. I can confidently say I have done that and will strive to keep doing so.” She was selected by the Sky with the No. 7 overall pick in April after guiding LSU to the Elite Eight.
Currently, the Sky holds a record of 12-22 and is contesting for the eighth and final playoff spot against the Atlanta Dream (12-22) and the Washington Mystics (11-23). Chicago’s remaining regular-season matches include contests against Washington on September 11 and Atlanta on September 17. Despite her absence from the court, Reese vowed to remain supportive, stating, “you’ll still see me being the biggest cheerleader on the sideline” for her teammates.
The WNBA playoffs are set to commence on September 22.
Looking ahead, Reese hinted at her return for the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, which begins in January: “Unrivaled league, see you soon!”