Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, the league chief in rebounds, will miss the rest of the WNBA season with a wrist damage, the workforce introduced Saturday. It was after present process a medical analysis following Friday’s sport that Reese was dominated out for the remainder of the season, in accordance with the workforce.
“I’m stuffed with feelings proper now that I’ve a season-ending damage, but in addition stuffed with a lot gratitude for what’s subsequent,” Reese mentioned on social media Saturday.
Reese recorded a double-double of 24 factors and 12 rebounds because the Sky beat the Los Angeles Sparks 92-78 on Friday. It was Reese’s rookie document twenty sixth double-double of the season.
What a yr. I by no means would have imagined the final bucket of my rookie season can be a 3 however perhaps that was God saying give them a style of what they are going to be seeing extra of in 12 months 2 lol🥲By all of it, I’ve confirmed that I belong on this league even when nobody else believed.… pic.twitter.com/re1X85mWR2
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) September 8, 2024
It’s been a record-setting rookie marketing campaign for Reese after the Sky drafted her seventh within the 2024 WNBA Draft out of LSU. She is the WNBA’s all-time chief in single-season whole rebounds (446) and offensive rebounds (172). She surpassed Sylvia Fowles for the WNBA single-season whole rebound document on Sept. 2 in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx. Reese’s league-leading 13.1 rebounds per sport and 5.1 offensive rebounds per sport are at the moment the best averages by any participant in WNBA historical past in these classes.
Reese, a 2024 WNBA All-Star, grew to become the primary participant in league historical past to document three consecutive video games of 20 or extra rebounds. Solely Alyssa Thomas, who holds the document with 28, had extra single-season double-doubles than Reese.
Reese completed the season taking part in 34 video games, averaging 13.6 factors, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per sport on 39.1 p.c capturing from the ground. With Friday’s win, the Sky are 12-22 in 2024 and eighth within the league standings.
How will we glance again at Reese’s rookie season?
Reese instantly exceeded expectations in the beginning of her WNBA profession along with her relentless rebounding. Her pursuit of the ball on the offensive and defensive glass, led her to set league information for consecutive double-doubles and rebounds in a single season. She additionally helped a Sky workforce projected to fall into the lottery keep in playoff place. Have been the playoffs to begin right now, Chicago can be within the eighth seed.
Regardless of being the seventh decide within the draft, Reese was the second most efficient rookie, forward of everybody in her class however Caitlin Clark. She was a worthy All-Star, including 12 factors and 11 rebounds off the bench for Workforce WNBA in a victory over the Olympic workforce. She is going to undoubtedly earn All-Rookie honors although received’t be in rivalry for Rookie of the 12 months. — Sabreena Service provider, girls’s basketball workers author
What does this imply for the Chicago Sky?
Reese was probably the most impactful participant for the Sky this season. Chicago was 22.5 factors per 100 possessions higher along with her on the courtroom, one of the best on-off differential of any participant within the league who suited up for at the very least two video games. Though her efficient field-goal share of 39.5 was effectively beneath league common, her potential to create further possessions and defend her place made her a optimistic participant, not only for a rookie.
The Sky must rely additional on Isabelle Harrison and Brianna Turner in Reese’s absence, and even play Michaela Onyenwere on the 4 to enhance the workforce’s spacing. Chicago is tied with Atlanta for the eighth seed, with one sport left in opposition to the Dream on the penultimate day of the season. — Service provider
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(Photograph: Melissa Tamez / Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
