Angel Reese announced her first WNBA season is over in explosive announcement

Angel Reese sensationally announced that her first WNBA season is over due to a wrist injury.

Reese announced the news in an explosive statement Saturday night, but she didn’t specify what the issue was. Chicago Sky later reported that the cause was a wrist problem, but did not specify what the problem was or whether she needed surgery.

Reese, 22, wrote: “What a year. I never thought my last bucket of my first season would be a three, but maybe God said so. Just a taste of what you’ll see more of in year two.

“My whole life, I’ve shown that I belong in this league, even when no one believed in me. All I ever wanted was to come to W and make a name for myself, and I can confidently say I have achieved that and will continue to strive for it. “I’m overwhelmed with emotion right now about having a season-ending injury, but at the same time, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for what’s to come.

Angel Reese surprised WNBA fans when she announced that her freshman season is over due to injury.

Reese was pictured celebrating her Chicago Sky team’s win on Friday night, but she is still suffering from a wrist injury.

“This is God’s timing, not mine, but I’m finally able to rest physically and mentally. “God gives the toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.” You will continue to see me on the sidelines as the biggest fan! And see you soon, Invincible League!

Reese played for the Sky on Friday night, ending a seven-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Reese recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds, setting a rookie record for his 26th double-double of the season. She made 9 of 15 3-pointers and all 5 of her free throws.

Reese also spoke with the media for nearly 15 minutes after Friday’s win, making no mention of her injury and appearing in good spirits. But when speaking about the team’s losing streak, Reese got emotional and said: “It’s so easy to just gloat and not get over things.”

Then, on Saturday night, shortly after Reese himself announced the news, the team announced, “Angel Reese underwent further medical testing following the Sept. 6 game against Los Angeles and will miss the remainder of the season and 2024 season due to an injury to his wrist,” the team announced today. The team will provide a medical update at a later date as needed.

The Chicago Sky are locked in a battle with the Atlanta Dream for a postseason playoff spot, and Reese’s season-ending injury comes as an absolute blow.

The Sky need Reese’s biggest rival, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, to pull off a win on Sunday against Atlanta. Currently, Chicago and Atlanta are 12-22 this season.

Reese pictured with archrival Kaitlyn Clarke at the WNBA Draft in April

The 22-year-old Reese’s season may be ending early, but she’s had an impressive freshman year.

Reese was selected seventh overall in the WNBA Draft in New York earlier this year, declaring for the WNBA after playing for LSU in college. Along with Clarke, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Reese helped bring interest in the WNBA to a new level, thanks in large part to the rivalry between the two.

Just this week, she released the first episode of her new podcast, in which she controversially claimed that some Clarke 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. Reese didn’t address the injury during his press conference Friday night.

But now he must embark on a strong comeback and prepare for 2025. The start date for the season has yet to be announced, but next year’s draft is scheduled for April. She finished the 2024 season with averages of 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds, the highest rebounding average in WNBA history. Reese also set a rookie record with 26 double-doubles, most recently in a 92-78 win over Los Angeles on Friday night.

The Sky rookie finished the season with 446 total rebounds, including a career-high 172 offensive rebounds. Reese will now play in the new 3-on-3 Unrivaled League, which debuts in Miami this winter.