Angel Reese had a wonderful rookie season with the Chicago Sky, breaking data for the longest streak of double-double video games and the WNBA’s single-season rebounding document. Drafted No. 7 general by the Sky, Reese tailored properly to the physicality of the WNBA whereas nonetheless enhancing her recreation to match the league and her staff’s type. Whereas the Sky missed the playoffs, Reese’s season ended even sooner when she injured her wrist. She ended up having surgical procedure to restore a hairline fracture in that wrist after the WNBA season.
Regardless of her season ending early, Reese completed her rookie season averaging 13.6 factors, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per recreation.
She recovered in time to start out Unmatched’s 3-on-3 season in January, serving to Rose Basketball Membership win the league’s first-ever Championship. Reese additionally recorded the league’s first-ever 20-20 recreation, scoring 22 factors and grabbing 21 rebounds towards the Lunar Owls and Napheesa Collier. Whereas Rose made it to the championship recreation and gained, Reese’s Unmatched season additionally ended early when she injured her hand and left Miami early.
Unmatched by no means specified what the precise nature of her damage was, nor have the Chicago Sky supplied an replace on Reese’s standing. With coaching camp beginning in beneath every week, all that’s certainly on its means. Regardless, Reese has been unable to complete each her rookie seasons within the WNBA and Unmatched as a result of these accidents, whether or not they’re related or not.
If Reese can begin the WNBA season on time with Chicago, the purpose can be for her to play your complete season injury-free. She has the possibility to make an enormous leap in her ability this yr, given the glimpses that had been beginning to be proven in Unmatched. Her capability to attain beneath the basket, benefit from second-chance alternatives, and defend had been all factors of emphasis in Miami.
Hand and wrist accidents will be tough, although, particularly on condition that Reese already wanted surgical procedure. To make a comparability, I’ve coated Scottie Barnes and the Raptors for the final a number of years as a Toronto-based basketball journalist, which is related as a result of Barnes sustained a barely completely different however nonetheless comparable fracture to his hand on the finish of the 2023-2024 NBA season. He additionally underwent surgical procedure and recovered in time to play in the beginning of the 2024 NBA season. However round February-March, he injured his hand once more, nonetheless capable of play however with noticeable struggles. On the finish of the season, Barnes acknowledged that his hand would typically go numb, making it tough for him to grip the basketball correctly.
Once more, that is clearly not the very same situation, nevertheless it’s a reminder that these accidents can linger.
Whereas we wait to see what Chicago releases on Reese’s damage standing forward of coaching camp, the main focus turns to the Sky’s improvement. They fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after the 2024 WNBA season, her first with the staff. The staff’s new coach is Tyler Marsh, who beforehand coached beneath Becky Hammon on the Las Vegas Aces and has a observe document of creating gamers.
In a really distinctive yr within the WNBA (on condition that a lot of the league can be heading into free company after this season), the Sky appear to have centered this yr’s efforts on mentorship. They introduced in Courtney Vandersloot as a veteran guard presence, together with buying and selling for Ariel Atkins. Kia Nurse is one other tried-and-true veteran who simply completed a wonderful season at Athletes Limitless. Rebecca Allen may even present a ton of nice mentorship to younger wings.
On the flip aspect, the Sky drafted some prospects in Hailey Van Lith, Ajsa Sivka, Aicha Coulibaly and Maddy Westbeld. Whereas this staff could not compete for a title, they may proceed to develop their core for the longer term.
The massive query on Angel Reese’s improvement in yr two would be the capability to remain wholesome. If she does, she is going to proceed to develop into one of many WNBA’s most fun younger prospects.