Angel Reese announces her first WNBA season is OVER in bombshell statement
Angel Reese has sensationally revealed that her first season in the WNBA is over due to a wrist injury.
Reese announced the news in a bombshell statement on Saturday night but she did not specify what the issue was. The Chicago Sky later said that a wrist issue was to blame but did not elaborate on the precise problem or if she needed surgery.
Reese, 22, wrote: ‘What a year. I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2.
‘Through it all, I have showed that I belong in this league even when no one else believed. All I have ever wanted was to come into the W and make an impact. I can confidently say I have done that and will strive to keep doing so.
‘I’m filled with emotions right now that I have a season ending injury, but also filled with so much gratitude for what is next.
Angel Reese has stunned WNBA fans by announcing that her first season is over due to injury
Reese, pictured celebrating Chicago Sky’s win on Friday night, has a wrist injury
‘Although this is God’s timing and not mine, I am finally able to give myself a physical and mental break. “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.” You’ll still see me being the biggest cheerleader on the sideline! And Unrivaled league, see you soon!’
Reese played Friday night for the Sky as they snapped their seven-game losing skid against Los Angeles Sparks.
Reese finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for her rookie record 26th double-double of the season.
Reese made 9 of 15 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws.
She spoke to the media for nearly 15 minutes after Friday’s victory and seemed in high spirits, making no mention of any injury.
But speaking about the team’s losing streak, Reese poignantly said: ‘Adversity builds character. It’s so easy to just be on the high and not go through things.’
The Chicago Sky team are locked in a battle with Atlanta Dream to make the post-season playoffs, making Reese’s season-ending injury an absolute hammer blow.
The Sky need Caitlin Clark – Reese’s great rival – and Indiana Fever to help them on Sunday with a win against Atlanta. At present, both Chicago and Atlanta are 12-22 for the season.
Reese was picked seventh in the WNBA Draft in New York earlier this year, declaring for the WNBA after playing for LSU in college.
Along with Clark, who was the first pick in the Draft, Reese has helped drive interest in the WNBA to a new level.
Only this week she dropped the first episode of her new podcast, where she controversially claimed that some of Clark’s fans are racist.
Her season-ending injury will all but end the debate about who should win rookie of the year, with the path now clear for Clark to claim the honor. She was already favorite but Reese was, by far, her nearest competitor.
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