Sheryl Swoopes Sends Strong Message to Angel Reese After Season-Ending Injury

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes has been one of Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese’s biggest outspoken supporters this season.

She’s been arguably Reese’s biggest advocate in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race after many started writing the LSU alum off given the red-hot stretch Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been on since the Olympic break.

So, when Reese announced on Saturday night that she had suffered a season-ending injury that cut her rookie season short, of course Swoopes took the time to send the 22-year-old some words of encouragement during as she begins her road to recovery.

“Damn kid! Keep your head up and know that it's all a part of God's plan,” she said. “You have truly been remarkable this season! #minorsetbackforamajorcomeback .”

Reese ends her rookie year having broken several WNBA records including most single-season rebounds (446), most single-season rebounds per game (13.1), most consecutive double-doubles (15), most double-doubles by a rookie (26) and the most consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds (three).

Statistically, she was the Sky’s second-best player this season behind Chennedy Carter, averaging 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Reese scored 20 or more points four times, and she recorded double-digit rebounds 29 times, including in each of her last 28 games. Among rookies, Reese ranked second to Clark in scoring, steals, player-efficiency rating, made field goals per game and made free throws per game.

In any other year, Reese likely would have been the runaway favorite to win Rookie of the Year. She just had the unfortunate luck of being in the same draft class as Clark, who’s averaging 19 points, 8.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds per game and leading the league in assits.