WNBA

What Angel Reese’s injury that ended WNBA rookie season means for her Unrivaled league status

Angel Reese said she’s looking forward to “a major comeback” after suffering a season-ending wrist injury in the Sky’s 92-78 victory over the Sparks on Friday.

The Sky rookie underwent successful surgery on a fractured left wrist on Tuesday, the team announced, adding that she’s taking steps toward recovery and is expected to start rehab in the coming weeks.

Reese, who will miss the remainder of the 2024 WNBA season, is still confirmed to play in the Unrivaled League, a new 3-on-3 league launched by the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Lynx’s Napheesa Collier.

Sky rookie Angel Reese posts a photo of her cast after season-ending surgery to repair a fractured left wrist on Sept. 10, 2024.
Sky rookie Angel Reese posts a photo of her cast after season-ending surgery to repair a fractured left wrist on Sept. 10, 2024.Instagram/Angel Reese

Unrivaled, which will take place in Miami during the WNBA offseason, begins in January 2025 and runs through March.

In a post on her Instagram announcing her season-ending injury, Reese wrote, “You’ll still see me being the biggest cheerleader on the sideline! And Unrivaled league, see you soon!”

Reese also mentioned Unrivaled while discussing her injury in a TikTok video on Sunday.

Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky arrives to the arena before the game on September 8, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky arrives to the arena before the game on September 8, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.NBAE via Getty Images
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 6, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 6, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.NBAE via Getty Images

“I’m going to be in a hard cast for four weeks and then I’m going to be in a soft cast for two weeks that Is removable and then I’m back,” Reese said. “So, six weeks I’ll be back to doing my own thing, normal life.

“… So in the meantime I will just be in my hard cast for four weeks… during that time I’ll just be lifting, running, conditioning, shooting with my off hand, dribbling and doing stuff with my off hand, working on my nutrition.

“… Obviously I wanted more but God’s timing is not always my timing so I have to understand that. That’s why I’m in such good spirits because I’ve been through this and it’s literally small to a giant.

“I’m looking forward to this minor setback to a major comeback. Year 2 is about to be scary hours. That’s crazy my last bucket [of my rookie year] was a three knowing going into my second year, even going into Unrivaled league, it’s up.”

Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 6, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 6, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.NBAE via Getty Images
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky high fives Chennedy Carter #7 during the game on September 8, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky high fives Chennedy Carter #7 during the game on September 8, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL.NBAE via Getty Images

Reese is also featured on Unrivaled’s roster of players.

The former NCAA champ at LSU, who averaged a double-double in her WNBA rookie season, announced her participation in Unrivaled in July.

On Tuesday, Reese posted a smiling photo of her giving a thumbs up gesture with her arm in a cast.

In her rookie season, Reese averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

Reese, along with Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, were the only rookies to be named to the 2024 WNBA All-Star team.

The Sky (13-22) face the Mystics (11-24) in Chicago on Wednesday as they try and hold onto the final playoff spot in the WNBA.

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