In Reese's last WNBA game this season, she notched up a team-leading 24 points along with 12 rebounds to clinch a 93-78 victory for the Sky over the Sparks.
This triumph put an end to Chicago's seven-game skid, as the team vies for a playoff position together with the Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics, and Dallas Wings.
Following their victorious match, Reese announced her career hurdle on X. However, her statement also reflected her unwavering spirit and determination to excel in the WNBA.
She vowed to be the Sky's "biggest cheerleader" for the rest of the games and to return next season as an advanced player.
Reese expressed: "What a year. I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a 3 but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in Year 2."
"Through it all, I have shown that I belong in this league even when no one else believed. All I have ever wanted was to come into the W and make an impact. I can confidently say I have done that and will strive to keep doing so."
Outfitted with emotions and a hint of relief, WNBA star Reese stated: "I'm filled with emotions right now that I have a season-ending injury, but also filled with so much gratitude for what is next."
She further accepted the turn of events with a faithful heart: "Although this is God's timing and not mine, I am finally able to give myself a physical and mental break. God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. You'll still see me being the biggest cheerleader on the sideline! And Unrivaled League, see you soon."
In the lead-up to her formal declaration about the setback, Reese had been marked as questionable for the Sky's impending clash with the Wings this Sunday. Unfortunately, this means the close of her season comes prematurely, with six games left on the calendar.
Yet even with the premature end to her season, Reese's mark on the WNBA in her inaugural year strikes a notable record. The rookie notched up an impressive 26 double-doubles, a feat only surpassed once before in the league and never by a first-year player.
Continuity was her strong suit, with 15 back-to-back double-doubles marking a new standard. Not just prolific in quantity, she was set to make history with the highest average rebounds per game across a whole season.
To top it all, she became the first player ever in the league to clinch three successive matches tallying upwards of 20 rebounds each, and her stellar performances earned her a spot in the All-Star lineup right in her debut season.
The injury will give Caitlin Clark six more chances to win the end-of-year award. Clark's impressive list of achievements includes leading the Indiana Fever into the playoffs, setting a WNBA single-game record with 19 assists, becoming the first Rookie to record two triple-doubles in a season, among others.
For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.