Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, the league’s leading rebounder, will miss the remainder of the WNBA season with a wrist injury, the team announced Saturday. After a postgame medical exam on Friday, Reese was ruled out for the remainder of the season, the team said.

“I’m very emotional right now because I suffered a season-ending injury, but I’m also very thankful for what’s next,” Reese said on social media on Saturday.

Reese posted a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Sky defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 92-78 on Friday. It was Reese’s rookie-record 26th double-double of the season.

What a year. I never thought the last basket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they’ll see even more in year two lol🥲 Through it all I showed that I belong in this league even when no one else believed it.… pic.twitter.com/re1X85mWR2

– Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) 8 September 2024

It was a record-breaking rookie season for Reese after the Sky drafted her seventh overall out of LSU in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She is the all-time WNBA record holder for total rebounds (446) and offensive rebounds (172) in a season. On Sept. 2, she surpassed Sylvia Fowles for the WNBA record for total rebounds in a season against the Minnesota Lynx. Reese’s league-leading 13.1 rebounds per game and 5.1 offensive rebounds per game are currently the highest averages of any player in WNBA history in those categories.

Reese, a 2024 WNBA All-Star, became the first player in league history to grab 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games. Only Alyssa Thomas, who holds the record with 28, has had more double-doubles in a season than Reese.

Reese finished the season with 34 games played and averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 39.1 percent shooting. With Friday’s win, the Sky are 12-22 and eighth in the league table in 2024.

How will we look back on Reese’s rookie season?

Reese immediately exceeded expectations at the start of her WNBA career with her relentless rebounding. Her pursuit of the ball on offense and defense earned her league records for consecutive double-doubles and rebounds in a single season. She also helped a Sky team that was expected to fall into the lottery stay in the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, Chicago would be in eighth place.

Despite being the seventh pick in the draft, Reese was the second most productive rookie, outperforming everyone else in her class except Caitlin Clark. She was a worthy All-Star, contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds as a substitute in the WNBA team’s victory over the Olympic team. She will undoubtedly receive All-Rookie honors, but will not compete for Rookie of the Year honors. — Sabreena Merchant, Women’s Basketball Editor

What does this mean for Chicago skies?

Reese was the Sky’s most impactful player this season. With her on the court, Chicago was 22.5 points per 100 possessions better, the best on-off differential of any player in the league who played at least two games. Although her effective field goal percentage of 39.5 was well below the league average, her ability to create extra possessions and defend her position made her a positive player, and not just for a rookie.

In Reese’s absence, the Sky will have to continue to rely on Isabelle Harrison and Brianna Turner or even let Michaela Onyenwere play at number 4 to improve the team’s gaps. Chicago is tied with Atlanta in eighth place and has one game left against the Dream on the penultimate day of the season. — Dealer

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(Photo: Melissa Tamez / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)