Chicago Sky star Angel Reese may be nearing a return to the court after missing most of the second half of the season with a back injury. The second-year forward has been upgraded to questionable and is considered a game-time decision for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Seattle Storm.
Head coach Tyler Marsh said Reese looked strong in practice and continued to show progress during shootaround.
“She looked good in practice yesterday, and she came in today feeling pretty good at shootaround,” Marsh said Tuesday morning. “Spirits are high, and they’re hopeful. It is a game-time decision for her to play tonight, but it’s looking pretty good right now.”
Reese has appeared in just two games since the All-Star break as the Sky managed her recovery from back tightness. She last played on July 29 in a 103-86 loss to the Washington Mystics, where she posted 22 points and 13 rebounds but was visibly hampered by both foul trouble and discomfort.
“It was ugly, ugly for me, but I tried to push through as much as I could for my teammates because I know they need me out there,” Reese said after the game. “When I am out there, I don’t think about an injury. It can happen anyway, anytime. If I’m thinking about it too much, it’s gonna happen again.”
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The Sky, who enter Tuesday at 8-25 and eight games back of the final playoff spot with 11 games remaining, have been cautious in handling Reese’s injury. Marsh noted previously that the team saw little reason to rush her return given the long-term risks associated with back issues.
Despite her recent setback, Reese’s sophomore campaign has been defined by historic production. She became the first player in WNBA history to record multiple double-double streaks of at least 10 games, and her current run of 11 straight is still active. Over that stretch, she has averaged 16.9 points and 13.1 rebounds while shooting 50.9% from the field.
Reese also earned her second All-Star selection in July and recorded her first career triple-double in a win over the Connecticut Sun earlier this season.
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Whether she takes the floor against Seattle will ultimately depend on how she responds after going through a pre-game workout, but Marsh’s optimism suggests the Sky could have their star back in the lineup as they continue their late-season push.
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