Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese announced on X that her season is over due to injury on Saturday night after being declared questionable for the team's upcoming game against the Dallas Wings.
“I'm filled with emotions right now about having a season-ending injury, but also filled with so much gratitude for what comes next. Even though this is God's time and not mine, I can finally give myself a physical and mental break. 'God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers,'” Reese wrote.
Reese finishes her rookie year with a record-breaking rebounding total. In her first year, without even finishing the full season, Reese broke the WNBA single-season rebounding record and the rebounds per game record with 13.1.
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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese grabs a rebound. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Reese broke the single-season record in the Sky's 79-74 loss at Minnesota on Sept. 1, when she surpassed Sylvia Fowles' record of 404 set in 2018. Fowles surpassed the record by one just one year after Jonquel Jones recorded 403. Reese accomplished the feat in just 23 games.
Reese was considered fellow rookie Caitlin Clark's biggest rival for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. Former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah even told Fox News Digital that he would vote for Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese. About Clark for Rookie of the Year if he had a say.
“When I watch her play, she reminds me a lot of myself,” Noah said.
Clark has posted career-high averages in points, assists, steals, blocks and every major shooting percentage category. Clark broke the Fever's single-season assists record in a loss to Minnesota on Friday.
But Reese did have a drastic advantage in terms of rebounding. At 13.1 rebounds per game, Reese more than doubled Clark's current 5.8 rebounds per game.
In head-to-head meetings this year, the Fever have beaten the Sky three of four times. In two of those meetings, Reese scored more points than Clark and grabbed more rebounds than Clark in all four meetings. Clark had more assists in all four meetings.
FORMER NBA ALL-STAR ON WHY HE CHOSE ANGEL REESE OVER CAITLIN CLARK FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark watch during the second half against the Chicago Sky on June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Before her season-ending injury, Reese discussed her rivalry with Clark on the first episode of her podcast Thursday. Reese expressed tremendous respect for Clark and that they have no ill will toward each other despite a heated rivalry that dates back to their college careers, when Clark was at Iowa and Reese at LSU.
However, Reese spoke out against Clark's passionate fans, claiming they have harassed her.
“I think it's the fans, her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that really run for her, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it's very disrespectful. I think there's a lot of racism in that regard,” Reese said.
Reese went on to list death threats and people coming directly to his house as an alleged example of a measure Clark's fans have taken in response to their feud.
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Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky's Angel Reese look on during the game on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
“People have come to my house, followed me home, everything has been fine,” Reese said.
Reese even claims that some fans have created AI-generated images of her, depicting her without clothes, and sent them to their relatives.
“A lot of times, people have created naked pictures of me with AI and sent them to my family members. My family members are like uncles sending them to me like, 'Are you naked on Instagram?'” Reese said. “It's horrible to have to go through that and see other players have to go through that.”
After Clark was selected with the first pick in last year's WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, Reese was selected seventh overall by Chicago. Reese and Clark were the only rookies to be named to the WNBA All-Star Game in July.
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