Angel Reese’s Injury Sidelines Her for Semifinal Clash
MIAMI — In a turn of events that has left fans and analysts buzzing, Angel Reese will be absent from the Rose’s crucial semifinal game against the Laces this Sunday. The reason? A hand injury that has come at the most inopportune time for the team, as confirmed by Unrivaled.
Reese’s injury saga began during the second quarter of her regular-season finale last Monday. It was a moment that seemed innocuous at first. After grabbing an offensive rebound, Reese was hit on the wrist, causing her to lose her balance. She managed to make a gentle shot off the backboard on the Rose’s next offensive play, but the pain was evident as she clutched her left wrist immediately afterward.
Throughout the ensuing timeout, Reese was seen flexing and grabbing her wrist, a clear sign of discomfort. She attempted to soldier on, starting the third quarter with a wrist strap on her left hand. However, the pain proved too much, and she exited the game midway through the period.
After several days of evaluation, the decision was made to rule Reese out of Sunday’s game. This injury is particularly concerning as it affects the same wrist that underwent surgery in September. The surgery was to repair a small crack in her bone, an injury that prematurely ended her rookie season.
In a candid social media post back in September, Reese shared that doctors had placed a very small screw in her wrist to prevent the bone from cracking completely. She expressed relief that the operation was successful, noting, “Long term, I literally could have not played anymore because this is a very hard place to heal because the blood flow is little to none.”
The timing of this injury is especially poignant, coming just hours after Unrivaled announced Reese as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Her defensive prowess has been a cornerstone for the Rose, with Reese leading the league in rebounds, averaging an impressive 12.1 per game. She also tallied a team-high eight blocks, underscoring her defensive impact.
Reese’s contributions have been instrumental in the Rose’s success, as they finished the regular season with the best scoring defense in the league, allowing only 65.2 points per game. Her ability to notch eight double-doubles, including a historic 22-point, 21-rebound game—the first 20-20 game in Unrivaled history—has been nothing short of remarkable.
Her teammate, Chelsea Gray, praised Reese’s relentless effort, saying, “Double-double machine. She’s somebody who has a knack for rebounding and just goes after it. It’s really hard to do that consistently. It’s a lot on your body. It’s a mindset that you have to have, and it’s one she’s had this whole time.”
With Reese sidelined, the Rose will need to look to other players to fill the defensive void. Naz Hamilton and Natisha Hiedeman have been assigned to the team as relief players, and their performance will be crucial in maintaining the team’s defensive integrity.
- The Rose (8-6) finished second in the league standings.
- They will face the third-place Laces (7-7) in the playoff semifinals on Sunday.
- The Lunar Owls (13-1) will play the Vinyl (5-9) in the other semifinal matchup.
- The Unrivaled championship game is scheduled for Monday night.
As the Rose prepare for their semifinal showdown, the absence of Angel Reese looms large. Her defensive skills and leadership on the court will be sorely missed, and the team will need to rally together to overcome this challenge. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the Rose adapt and whether they can continue their strong defensive performance without their star player.
Originally Written by: Kendra Andrews
