Unfortunate injury news headlines this week’s dose of women’s basketball developments:
Injury cuts short Angel’s stellar rookie season
Angel Reese’s phenomenal rookie season will end prematurely, as the No. 7 overall pick by the Chicago Sky suffered a season-ending wrist injury in her team’s Friday night victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Chi Barbie finishes her inaugural WNBA season with a number of records. She grabbed a single-season best 446 rebounds. Her 26 double-doubles, which included a record-breaking streak of 15 straight, are the most attained by a rookie, and the second most in a single season in league history. With averages of 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, she is the fifth WNBA rookie to average a double-double.
On Saturday, Reese posted on social media:
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 lol….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. 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.
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 lol Through it all, I have showed that I belong in this league even when no one else believed.… pic.twitter.com/re1X85mWR2
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) September 8, 2024
Valkyries secure jersey patch sponsor
On Wednesday, the Golden State Valkyries announced a multi-year jersey patch sponsorship with JPMorgan Chase. The financial services company is the expansion franchise’s first founding partner and intends to collaborate with the organization on local initiatives related to financial health, workplace equity, career development and women-owned businesses.
JPMorganChase and the Valkyries will collaborate on a variety of Bay Area community initiatives aimed at:
• enhancing financial health
• promoting workplace equity
• fostering career growth
• supporting women-owned small businesses https://t.co/XwxdXBj6ku— Golden State Valkyries (@wnbagoldenstate) September 4, 2024
Who is Unrivaled?
Unrivaled has revealed 19 of 30 league participants. The 19 announced players are:
- Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
- Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
- Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces)
- Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)
- Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
- Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
- Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream)
- Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury)
- Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)
- Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)
- Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks)
- Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx)
- Marina Mabrey (Connecticut Sun)
- Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings)
- Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
- Natasha Cloud (Phoenix Mercury)
- Skylar Diggins-Smith (Seattle Storm)
- Rickea Jackson (Los Angeles Sparks)
- DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun)
Shared snippets from a conversation between co-founders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier also hint at what the league intends to offer, enhancing players’ visibility to fans through behind-the-scenes content, player-focused shows and more.
