Angel Reese’s Rookie Season Cut Short by Injury
Former LSU standout Angel Reese has had her rookie year in the WNBA come to an early conclusion following a wrist injury sustained during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 6th. The Chicago Sky rookie shared the news with her 4.1 million social media followers.
Reflecting on her season, Reese said, “What a year. I never would have imagined my last bucket of the season would be a 3-pointer, but maybe that was God’s way of hinting at what’s to come in Year 2, lol. Through it all, I’ve proven that I belong in this league, even when others doubted me.”
Reese, who was selected as the 7th overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft, quickly emerged as one of the top players in a highly competitive rookie class that includes stars like Cameron Brink and Caitlin Clark. Her rivalry with Clark, which began during their college days at LSU and Iowa, became a major storyline in the WNBA this season. The league’s popularity soared in part due to the interest in Reese and Clark’s growing professional rivalry. Clark, the top draft pick, was widely expected to win Rookie of the Year, but Reese posed a serious challenge for the title, particularly after setting a WNBA record with 15 consecutive double-double games leading up to the Olympic break in July.
Reese’s impressive rookie season concludes with an outstanding stat line, averaging a double-double with 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. She was named to the All-Star team in July and recorded 26 double-doubles throughout her shortened season, just two shy of the league record set by Alyssa Thomas last season.
As the Chicago Sky hold onto the eighth spot in the standings, clinging to the final playoff position with the regular season’s last week approaching, Reese vowed to be “the biggest cheerleader on the sideline.” In her absence, the team will rely on fellow rookie Camilla Cardoso to step up.
Looking ahead, Reese reaffirmed her commitment to participating in Breanna Stewart’s new 3×3 league in January, after taking “a physical and mental break” and preparing for her second year in the WNBA.
