Angel Reese’s record-breaking rookie season abruptly ended Saturday.
Reese, the No. 7 pick of the draft in the spring, announced on social media that she suffered a season-ending injury to her left wrist in the Sky‘s victory Friday against the Sparks. Reese’s announcement came hours after the team shared its injury report, which listed her as questionable for its game against the Wings on Sunday.
“I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a three,” Reese posted on X. “Maybe that was God saying, ‘Give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2.’ ”
Reese appeared to have injured her wrist in the third quarter, when guard Chennedy Carter passed inside to her. Sparks center Li Yueru fouled her as she went up for a layup.
The foul sent Reese to the floor, and she could be seen bracing her fall with her left hand. Reese made the free throw with her left hand. But as her adrenaline wore off, Reese felt an unusual amount of pain, prompting further evaluation.
The Sky did not release the exact injury Reese suffered. It’s unlikely that a sprain would be categorized as a season-ending injury.
Reese played the rest of the third quarter and nearly seven minutes in the fourth before Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon sent her to the bench. She scored seven points in the fourth quarter.
Reese will remain in Chicago to support the Sky for their last three home games of the season. According to her post, she will be ready to compete in Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 basketball league founded by two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart and two-time Olympic gold medalist Napheesa Collier, in January.
‘‘I’m filled with emotions right now that I have a season-ending injury,’’ Reese said. ‘‘But also filled with so much gratitude for what is next.’’
Reese finished the season averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds, the highest rebounding average in WNBA history. She also set a rookie double-double record, finishing the season with 26, surpassing Tina Charles, who had 22 in 2010.
Reese has the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles with 15 earlier in the season as well as the record for rebounds in a season (446), surpassing former Sky star Sylvia Fowles (404).
Reese was the only Sky player who started all 34 games. Despite her rookie status, she gave the Sky one constant every night: the ability to dominate the glass.
It was because of her rebounding efforts that Reese forced her way into the Rookie of the Year conversation, which many expected to be controlled by No. 1 overall pick Caitlin Clark. It wasn’t until the return from the Olympic break that Clark began to pull away in the race. Reese’s injury further cements Clark as the clear favorite.
Losing Reese, who’s second on the team in scoring behind Carter, is a significant blow for the Sky, who are making a final push for their sixth consecutive postseason appearance. They are tied for eighth in the league standings with the Dream.
It’s likely that Isabelle Harrison will replace Reese in the starting lineup. Reese’s absence also will mean more minutes for forward Brianna Turner in the Sky’s remaining six games.
Harrison suffered a torn left meniscus last year and missed the season. In her return this year, Harrison is averaging 5.5 points and three rebounds in 14 minutes per game.
Reese has a championship pedigree. In 2023, she led LSU to its first NCAA women’s title. This season was the most losing Reese had experienced in her young career. She spoke at length Friday about the championship foundation she felt the Sky were building despite their losing record.
‘‘Adversity builds character,’’ Reese said. ‘‘We’ve seen our character in the locker room, being able to see how mentally tough we are. We stayed together. It wasn’t easy. It was a lot of going back and forth, figuring things out. A lot of tears, a lot of emotion, but knowing what the main goal is. The main goal is to win, get to the playoffs and get to a championship.”
If the Sky are unable to make the playoffs, they’ll enter the WNBA lottery, which features the bottom four teams in the league. Each team’s cumulative record in the last two seasons determines their odds of selecting first through fourth. But the Wings own the rights to swap first-round picks with the Sky in 2025. This means that even if the Sky were to land the No. 1 overall pick, it would go to Dallas.