Chicago Sky rookie Angelle Reese, who led the league in rebounding, will miss the remainder of the WNBA season with a wrist injury, the team announced Saturday. The team said Reese's absence for the remainder of the season comes as a result of a medical evaluation she underwent after Friday's game.
“I'm filled with emotion after suffering this season-ending injury, but also with gratitude for what lies ahead,” Reese said on social media on Saturday.
Reese recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Sky beat the Los Angeles Sparks 92-78 on Friday. It was Reese's rookie-record 26th double-double of the season.
What a year it's been. I never expected the last bucket of my rookie season to be a 3. But maybe that was God giving me a taste of what we'll see more of in year 2. LOL 🥲 Through it all, I've shown that I deserve to be in this league, even when no one believed in me. … pic.twitter.com/re1X85mWR2
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) September 8, 2024
Since the Sky selected Reese with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft out of Louisiana State University, it has been a record-setting rookie season for Reese. Reese is the WNBA's all-time leader in single-season total rebounds (446) and offensive rebounds (172). On September 2 against the Minnesota Lynx, she broke the WNBA single-season rebound total record, surpassing Sylvia Fowles' record. Reese's league-leading 13.1 rebounds and 5.1 offensive rebounds per game are currently the highest averages by any player in those categories in WNBA history.
Reese, a 2024 WNBA All-Star, became the first player in league history to record 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games. Only Alyssa Thomas has more single-season double-doubles than Reese, with 28.
Reese finished the season averaging 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 39.1 percent from the field in 34 games. With Friday's win, the Sky move to 12-22 in the 2024 season and eighth in the league standings.
What do we make of Reese's rookie season?
Reese began her WNBA career exceeding expectations with her relentless rebounding prowess. Her ability to chase the ball offensively and defensively led to her setting consecutive double-doubles and league records for rebounds in a single season. She also helped lead a Sky team that was expected to fall into the lottery to a playoff spot. If the playoffs started today, Chicago would be the eighth seed.
Despite being drafted seventh overall, Reese was the second-best rookie, outperforming all of her classmates except for Caitlin Clark. She was an All-Star caliber player, scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in the WNBA's win over the Olympic team. She will undoubtedly earn All-Rookie honors, but she probably won't be a candidate for Rookie of the Year. Sabrina Merchant, women's basketball reporter
What does this mean for the Chicago Sky?
Reese was the Sky's most impactful player this season. When she was on the court, Chicago was 22.5 points better in scoring per 100 possessions, the best on-off differential among players who played at least two games in the league. Though her field goal percentage of 39.5% was well below league average, her ability to increase possessions and defend her position made her a promising player, and not just as a rookie.
With Reese gone, the Sky will have to rely more on Isabelle Harrison and Brianna Turner, or use Michaela Onyenwere at No. 4 to give the team more space. Chicago is tied with Atlanta for eighth place and has one game in hand, against the Dream, on the season finale. merchant
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