Angel Reese's record-breaking rookie year with the Chicago Sky ended prematurely as she announced Saturday that she would miss the remainder of this WNBA season with a wrist injury.
In just 34 games, the 6-foot-3 forward Reese established herself as one of the most tenacious rebounders the WNBA has ever seen. She set the record for most rebounds in a season with 446 and also recorded 26 double-doubles, just shy of Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas' record of 28 set last year.
Reese also had a league-record 15-game double-double streak and became the first WNBA player to have three consecutive 20-plus rebound games.
Reese, drafted No. 7 by LSU, where she won the 2023 national championship, was Indiana's Caitlin Clark's biggest challenge for rookie of the year. That was especially a testament to Reese's productivity on the rebounds and her defense.
The Sky remain in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot, tied with Atlanta and a game ahead of Washington. Chicago must try to finish strong without Reese.
Where do Sky stand with six games remaining and how do we assess Reese's first season? ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Kevin Pelton and Michael Voepel break down Saturday's announcement.
What a year! I never would have imagined that the last basket of my rookie season would be a 3-pointer, but maybe God was telling me to give them a taste of what they would see more of in Year 2. Despite it all, I have proven that I belong in this league even when no one else believed it… image.twitter.com/re1X85mWR2
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) September 8, 2024
How would you rate Reese's rookie season?
Voice: An A. And she earned it. There were WNBA personnel who questioned her performance at the professional level for a number of reasons, including her shooting ability. But those who believed in her game continued to say that her motor alone was a valuable tool, and it has been. And her numbers back it up, as she averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds.
Reese's natural rebounding instinct, combined with her tirelessness, allowed her to sometimes exhaust other teams on rebounds by herself. She set the season-high for rebounds in 32 games, breaking the previous record set by Sylvia Fowles in 34 games. Fowles, who retired after the 2022 season, is the WNBA's all-time leading rebounder (4,006), a mark Reese could also break one day.
Her double-double streak proved that her consistency and productivity continue in the professional arena just as they had in college. On top of that, Reese had to deal with a lot of pressure and media attention as more eyes than ever were on the WNBA this season.
Lastly, even though her season ended early, she played in 34 games, which is equal to or more than all WNBA Rookie of the Year award winners except for Indiana's Aliyah Boston last year (40). That's because the WNBA just moved to a 40-game regular season in 2023.
What impressed you most about his transition to the professional game?
Felipe: Reese’s tenacity and relentlessness are hallmarks of her defensive grit and rebounding prowess, and they’re also the same qualities that make her a fierce competitor and someone who constantly wants to keep improving, never satisfied with where she is. Professional evaluators seem to have undervalued those intangibles, which combined with her athleticism and skill led Reese to historic success. Watching her be as dominant on the glass as she has been, while emerging as the rock of her new franchise and facing incredible scrutiny (and racism/hate), was pretty remarkable.
What are you most hoping to see Reese improve on next season?
Philippou: On Friday, Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon told reporters that she had been talking to Reese recently about her finishing ability. Reese’s critics may point to her struggles finishing around the rim — overall, she shot 39.1% from the field as a rookie and 44.5% from inside five feet. That was an area of improvement she and Sky were well aware of, and one Reese will no doubt work on in the offseason with Chicago’s player-development-focused staff. Perhaps it’s a positive sign that in her final game of her freshman year, she shot 9-of-15 from the field, one of her most efficient games to date. It will also help if, in the future, the Sky can surround her with stronger guards who can draw defenders out of the paint.
Expanding her range will also be a priority. Reese added Friday that she was working late into Thursday night on her three-point shot with her coach, and that she was relieved to finally hit a 3-pointer in the game against Sparks after a long drought. She showed flashes of hitting shots outside the paint this season; having that become a consistent part of her game — and something she can step into with confidence — is the next step.
Can the Sky still make the postseason without Reese?
Pelton: Since Reese has played in all 34 games this season, we haven't seen Chicago without her yet. When Reese has been on the bench, the Sky have been outscored by an incredible 22.3 points per 100 possessions according to the WNBA's advanced statistics, the worst net rating without any player who has played at least 100 minutes of action.
We certainly shouldn't expect that lopsided margin to continue. Most of those minutes have come with Chicago's bench on the court rather than with the starters, and the sample size (256 minutes) is minuscule. But it's an indication of how important Reese has been as a rookie.
The Sky were already struggling since the Olympic break without Marina Mabrey, who was traded to the Connecticut Sun. Chicago's two wins since the break came against the last-place Los Angeles Sparks, though getting leading scorer Chennedy Carter back from health and safety protocols was a factor in Friday's 92-78 victory, the Sky's largest margin of victory all season.
The win kept Chicago tied with Atlanta for the final WNBA playoff spot at 12-22, but the Dream were favored to clinch the No. 8 seed 46% of the time to the Sky’s 37% according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index before accounting for Reese’s absence. The two teams will meet Sept. 17 in Atlanta, a game that could decide the eighth seed.
