Angel Reese Reacts After Being Ruled Out With Worrying Injury Against Chicago
Atlanta Dream center Angel Reese has found a new home where she can thrive after spending her first two years with the Chicago Sky. In her first season with the Dream, Reese has blossomed into the team’s focal point in the frontcourt. The former LSU Tigers star has averaged a career-best 15.7 points, to go along with 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals in around 30.8 minutes per contest.
Most recently, Reese went up against her former team, coach Tyler Marsh’s Chicago franchise, on Sunday, July 19, at home. Unfortunately for Reese, she was ruled out of the game with a left leg injury early in the fourth quarter from what was in what was an under par showing for her. Reese then went to her X/Twitter account to post that she is just looking forward to this year’s WNBA All-Star Weekend instead.
“DUBSSS IN THE MF CHAT. LET ALL STAR BREAK BEGINNN 🤪,” Reese wrote.
– Angel Reese, July 19, 2026
DUBSSS IN THE MF CHAT. LET ALL STAR BREAK BEGINNN🤪
Reese was going up for a lay-in in the opening minutes of the final period versus the Sky. When she landed, the young talent immediately fell to the floor. Reese tried getting back up, but went down and was assisted to the bench. There, it was determined that Reese could not finish the game. She finished with eight points, five rebounds, an assist, and two stocks (steals plus blocks) in 20 minutes played.
Coach Karl Smesko was uncomfortable bringing Angel Reese back into the game against the Chicago Sky
Fortunately for Angel Reese, the rest of coach Karl Smesko’s Atlanta Dream filled her void and won against the Chicago Sky by two points, 93-91. During his post-game press conference, Smesko spoke highly of Reese’s desire to come back into the game. Ultimately, Smesko believed that it was not the best decision as she was dealing with a lot of pain.
“When I was looking at her, it seemed like she was in a lot of pain. She wanted to go out there and keep playing because she’s competitive, and she wants to win the game. And so, you know, that was more of a, ‘I just don’t feel comfortable with it because she looked like she was in a lot of pain.’ Those are the tough decisions that you have to make…I just didn’t feel good about putting someone out there that looked like she was in that much pain,” Smesko said. (2:45)
This is the second time in the 2026 WNBA season that the Atlanta Dream has beaten the Chicago Sky. They previously defeated them by seven points, 82-75, back on June 9.
