Angel Reese could have waited and played through pain. Doctors cautioned that this would very certainly come at a high cost. So one of the top rookies in the 2024 draft decided that surgery was the way to go.Reese, the Chicago Sky’s No. 7 pick and the league’s highest rebounder at 13.1 boards per game, confirmed Sunday that she would miss the rest of the season.
The cause: a hairline fracture in her left wrist, which, if not treated immediately, might result in a completely shattered bone. When asked about Reese’s injury before the Sky faced Dallas in a must-win game as both teams contended for the final postseason place, Chicago coach Teresa Weatherspoon was cryptic.
Though Reese was not made accessible to the media before or after the Sky’s 92-77 victory, in which she loudly supported her teammates from the bench, she later took to social media to offer more information.
Reese’s injury, sustained on Friday, Sept. 6 against the Sparks when she landed hard after a and-one, is modest enough that doctors “gave me options to play,” she said.
However, they cautioned her that if she followed that way, she would probably instantly get arthritis, which Reese stated “wasn’t an option.” There’s also the potential that the crack will spread swiftly and destroy the bone completely.
Reese thought it was not worth it. “I want to have a long career in the league,” she told me. “I play basketball for awhile.”
She will undergo surgery. On Tuesday, September 10, she stated that physicians will insert a screw into her bone and she will be in a hard cast for four weeks, followed by a soft (and removable) cast for two weeks.
While rehabbing her wrist, Reese plans to spend time “lifting, running, conditioning, shooting with my off hand, dribbling with my off hand, and working on my nutrition.” She joked that she will continue to model, podcast, and be a baddie.
She intends to continue rooting for her teammates as they compete for the eighth and final playoff berth. The Sky’s victory over Dallas – an amazing feat given Reese’s absence – knocked the Wings out of playoff contention.
Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington will compete for the eighth and final playoff position. The Sky (13-22) face Washington (11-24) on Wednesday.
Reese had a standout rookie season, leading the league in rebounding while averaging 13.6 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Her dominance on the boards – she set a new single-season record with 446 rebounds – will make a strong case for Reese to be named Rookie of the Year, though Caitlin Clark is expected to win that award.
Reese also holds the record for most consecutive double-doubles (15). She was a 2024 All-Star and, fittingly, had a double-double in the All-Star Game as Team WNBA defeated the 2024 Olympic team.
Reese stated on social media that she “did amazing” in her first year of league play but admitted, “I wanted more.” Still, she stated, “God’s timing is better than mine, which is why I’m in such excellent spirits.
“I’ve gone through this before.” She described the injury as a “minor setback” that will result in a “major comeback” next season.
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