Angel Reese injury update: Sky rookie to miss remainder of WNBA season with wrist ailment

Angel Reese's rookie season — and, in all likelihood, her chase for Rookie of the Year — are over.

The Chicago Sky rookie announced Saturday night that she will miss the remainder of the season with a wrist injury suffered Friday in a win over the Sparks.

Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds over 34 games, setting a WNBA record for consecutive games with a double-double at 15. While the injury reinforces Caitlin Clark is headed to the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, Reese's breakthrough is one major reason for the Sky to be confident about their future.

Here's a look at Reese's injury and what it means for the Sky.

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What is Angel Reese's injury?

Reese released a lengthy statement revealing her season was over. She played against the Sparks on Friday night but was listed on the injury report Saturday with a wrist injury.

At this time, Reese's exact wrist injury is unclear. Her wrist appeared to be taped up by the end of Friday's game.

"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," Reese said in a tweet.

The 22-year-old added that she "showed that I belong in this league even when no one else believed," keeping her spirits high despite the setback.

The Sky will play their first game without Reese against the Sky on Sunday, and the news is certainly disappointing to anyone who was hoping to see her on the court. Chicago has six games left on its schedule and is still fighting for a playoff spot.

Chicago Sky playoff chances

The Sky currently hold the WNBA's eighth and final playoff spot despite their 12-22 record, but they only hold it by a margin of a tiebreaker. Chicago has the same record as the Atlanta Dream, and the Dream have a chance to pull even in the head-to-head tiebreaker when they two face off later in September.

If the Sky and Dream finish the season tied in the standings and tied in the head-to-head tiebreaker, the next tiebreaker would be best record in the conference. The Sky currently hold that advantage, though the Dream sit just a game behind and could pull even with a win over Chicago if that remains true.

In that event, it would come down to best winning percentage against teams that finish .500 or better.

MORE: Updated standings, remaining schedule for Chicago Sky

Then, there are the Mystics. Washington (11-23) is a game behind the Sky and Dream and could enter the equation with six games still on the schedule for each team.