Injury Ends WNBA Star’s Stellar Rookie Year

by Jacob Dunn, age 15

WNBA star Angel Reese, also known as the Double-Double Barbie and the Bayou Barbie, is out for the rest of her rookie season. Reese hurt her wrist in September during a Chicago Sky win over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Angel Reese was having one of the best rookie seasons ever. She averaged 14 points and 13 rebounds over 34 games this season.

Even before Reese came to the WNBA, she was a star. Drafted in the first round, basketball fans in Chicago knew she won a national championship with the Louisiana State University. Reese became known for her double-doubles, meaning she regularly had games with 10 or more points and 10 or more rebounds.

Born in Randallstown, Maryland, Angel Reese had basketball in her blood. Her mother, also known as Angel, played at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and after her college basketball career she then played overseas in Europe. Luxembourg. Her dad played basketball at Loyola Maryland University and then played professionally overseas. He met Angel’s mother while both were playing in Luxemburg. Angel’s brother and cousin also play college sports.

Angel Reese’s career kicked off in high school, when she attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland. Reese finished her senior season as a five-star recruit. She chose the University of Maryland, where she played for two years helping her team reach the Sweet 16. Reese decided she wanted something new and better, so she entered the transfer portal and committed to LSU. During her junior season at LSU, Reese averaged a double-double and helped take the Tigers to their first women's national championship game, where they won 102-85.

After winning a national title, Angel Reese started thinking about the WNBA draft. She averaged a double-double in her senior season and made another Sweet 16 appearance with LSU. Reese finished her college career averaging double-doubles. She made three Sweet 16 appearances and won a national championship.

Reese was selected by the Chicago Sky as the seventh overall pick in the WNBA draft. She started her impressive rookie season with 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in her first game. Reese got even better as the season wore on. As in college, she was a double-double machine in the WNBA. As a rookie, she started breaking records. Reese’s records consist of most consecutive double-doubles in the WNBA season. She also was the first WNBA rookie to score a double-double in an all-star game.

After a stellar all-star performance, Reese continued the regular season. But her rookie season would soon end. On September 6, Reese and the Chicago Sky faced the Los Angeles Sparks. The Chicago Sky came out with the win, but also with bad news: Angel Reese injured her wrist -- falling on it while trying to grab a rebound.

After consulting with doctors, Reese was told she could try a natural recovery or have surgery and be out for about six months. Reese chose to have surgery and is out for the remainder of the season.

Angel Reese ended with a great rookie season, having finished with 462 points, 446 rebounds, 63 assists, and 44 steals. She also had 16 blocks. Angle broke several records this season, which is unusual for a rookie.

Reese did incredible things as a WNBA rookie. Basketball fans are hopeful she will do even more after she recovers. Angel Reese is a name to be remembered and she is inspiring young girls and women across the world.

[Sources: Paris 2024 Olympics; ESPN; Sports Illustrated; The Guardian]