After being deemed doubtful for the Chicago Sky’s next game against the Dallas Wings due to a wrist injury, rookie Angel Reese made the announcement on X that her season is ended.
“I’m experiencing a range of emotions due to my season-ending injury, but I’m also really grateful for the next chapter in my life. Despite the fact that this is God’s timing rather than mine, I can now finally give myself a mental and physical vacation.”God sends his strongest soldiers into his hardest battles,” Reese wrote.
Reese records an astounding amount of rebounds at the end of her debut campaign. Reese smashed the records for the most rebounds in a single WNBA season and the most rebounds per game with 13.1 in her debut season, without even playing the entire season.
In the Sky’s 79-74 loss to Minnesota on September 1, Reese broke the single-season record when she eclipsed Sylvia Fowles’ mark of 404, which was set in 2018. Just one year after Jonquel Jones set the record with 403, Fowles surpassed it by one. The feat was completed by Reese in just 23 games.
Reese was thought to be the strongest contender to win the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year title against fellow rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Even more, former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah stated on Fox News Digital that if he had a vote, he would choose Chicago Sky freshman Angel Reese over Clark for freshman of the Year.
“Her play makes me feel a lot like myself,” Noah remarked.
In terms of points, assists, steals, blocks, and all significant shooting percentage categories, Clark has the higher averages. Clark broke the Fever’s single-season assist record during Friday’s loss to Minnesota.
However, Reese did have a significant rebounding advantage. Reese more than quadrupled Clark’s current per game total of 5.8 rebounds with 13.1 rebounds per game.
This season, the Fever have defeated the Sky three times out of four in head-to-head play. Reese outscored Clark in two of those encounters and outrebounded him in all four meetings in terms of rebounds. In each of the four encounters, Clark recorded more assists.
In the inaugural episode of her podcast on Thursday, Reese discussed her feud with Clark, which predated her season-ending injury. Even though the two had a fierce rivalry going back to their college days—Clark attended Iowa and Reese attended LSU—Reese said she had the utmost regard for Clark and that they are not at all hostile toward one another.
Reese, however, came out against Clark’s ardent supporters, alleging they had harassed her.
“I believe that it’s really just her fans—the Iowans and, more recently, the Indiana fans—who are truly kind and ride for her, and I appreciate that, very much. But occasionally, it’s quite offensive. Regarding that, I believe there’s a lot of racism,” Reese remarked.
Reese continued by enumerating supposed actions made by Clark’s supporters in response to their rivalry, including death threats and people showing up at her house.
It has come to that, Reese claimed. “People have come down to my address and followed me home.”
Reese even claims that some of her admirers have given her family members artificial intelligence (AI)-generated pictures of her in skimpy attire.
“AI photos of myself in my underwear have been created on numerous occasions. It has been forwarded to my relatives. My relatives are like uncles; they ask me questions like, “Are you naked on Instagram?” stated Reese. “Having to go through that and witnessing other players go through that is awful.”
Reese was chosen seventh overall by Chicago, following Clark’s selection by the Indiana Fever with the first pick in the WNBA Draft this past year. The only rookies selected for the July WNBA All-Star Game were Reese and Clark.