Chicago Sky star Angel Reese missed her first game of the season against the Atlanta Dream with a leg injury on Wednesday at Wintrust Arena.
Coach Tyler Marsh described the absence as a “precautionary” measure for the Sky. But the injury throws some uncertainty into Reese’s availability for the WNBA All-Star game, which will take place Saturday in Indianapolis.
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“I think she should be OK, but I’m not sure,” Marsh said. “She’s taking it day by day. She’s feeling better today.”
This is the second consecutive All-Star reserve selection for Reese, who is averaging 14 points and 12.6 rebounds. The forward is the leading player in minutes for the Sky, logging the 12th-most minutes of any player in the WNBA.
Reese is the latest All-Star to suffer a midseason injury in the weeks leading up to the celebratory weekend.
Dream forward Rhyne Howard will be out for the rest of July with a knee injury. And Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark — an All-Star captain who received the most fan votes — reaggravated a groin injury at the end of Tuesday’s game against the Connecticut Sun, which could threaten her availability for the game and 3-point shooting contest.
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The Sky were doubly short-handed for Wednesday’s day game due to the absence of Ariel Atkins, who suffered a calf injury in the first half of Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Lynx. The injury was described as non-contact, and Marsh said he was not certain when exactly it occurred. Atkins underwent evaluation in the locker room during halftime and did not return to the game.
Marsh said the Sky will reevaluate Atkins after the All-Star break. Her availability is currently considered “day-to-day” by the team.
