Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, the league chief in rebounds, will miss the rest of the WNBA season with a wrist harm, the staff 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 line with the staff.
“I’m crammed with feelings proper now that I’ve a season-ending harm, but in addition crammed 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 file 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 Yr 2 lol🥲Via 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 file on Sept. 2 towards the Minnesota Lynx. Reese’s league-leading 13.1 rebounds per sport and 5.1 offensive rebounds per sport are presently the very 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 file three consecutive video games of 20 or extra rebounds. Solely Alyssa Thomas, who holds the file with 28, had extra single-season double-doubles than Reese.
Reese completed the season enjoying 34 video games, averaging 13.6 factors, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per sport on 39.1 p.c taking pictures 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 at the beginning of her WNBA profession together with her relentless rebounding. Her pursuit of the ball on the offensive and defensive glass, led her to set league data for consecutive double-doubles and rebounds in a single season. She additionally helped a Sky staff projected to fall into the lottery keep in playoff place. Had been the playoffs to begin as we speak, 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 Staff WNBA in a victory over the Olympic staff. She is going to undoubtedly earn All-Rookie honors although received’t be in competition for Rookie of the Yr. — 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 together with her on the courtroom, the very best on-off differential of any participant within the league who suited up for no less than two video games. Though her efficient field-goal share of 39.5 was nicely under league common, her means 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 staff’s spacing. Chicago is tied with Atlanta for the eighth seed, with one sport left towards the Dream on the penultimate day of the season. — Service provider
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(Picture: Melissa Tamez / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)