Angel Reese's injury won't derail Chicago Sky's playoff goals | On Her Turf | NBC Sports

Callie Lawson Freeman good morning thank you for joining me today Callie we got some bomb shell news that dropped yeah on Friday night was it I can't even remember which night it was but it was over the weekend news that no one was expecting I was off Twitter came back actually I got the popup on my phone announcement that angel Reese is r season would be ending due to an injury and I felt like I don't even know how to explain it like shock is not enough like literally it felt like my stomach dropped I was like what because there was you know uh an update about her injury saying that you know she had like a wrist injury and she was questionable and I remember people started to freak out Cali and I was saying like Sky fans and and I was like guys she's going to play like what like I don't even pay attention when it says questionable and you know Angel Reese is so like like it's going to take a lot to keep her out of a game so I was just like this is just precautionary they got to put it on the list you know I didn't think anything of it and then like I don't even know if it was an hour later the news that she would be missing the remaining of her her rookie season I was so devastated cie I really was yeah I I think for me it was like shock cuz I saw the news and I'm like what happened like I just missed the injury and I think it kind of took a little time to get some clarity on that and shout out to the people that shared the clip and shared the context I think even if You' watch the game in which that happened it would have been easy to miss like she she went up and she kind of softened her Landing with her with her hand but it just and like you can see later she's like messing with it but I don't think it registered for all of us that that was serious so for me it was just like oh my goodness like what happened well it couldn't have registered for all of us that it was serious because it didn't even register for her right so it was like an and one she went up for she braced herself uh like you mentioned when she fell like most players do completely normal and so yes later we did you know detectives did there were videos later of her throughout the game like you know there's that that shot everyone keeps showing with her and Ria where she's like rolling her wrist you know but then uh uh you know the announcement came out so she made the announcement herself she's the one who who put up herself that she was going to miss the season and so I do love that she was the person who was able to announce it uh what a year I never would have imagined the last bucket of my rookie season would be a three which is tremendous for her but maybe that was God saying give them a taste of what they will be seeing more of in year two uh and then you know she just goes on to just talk about you know the season I can confidently say I've done you know done that when she's talking about people not believing in her what she wanted to do and her impact and so she's confident that she did that uh she's filled with emotions right now and I have a season-ending injury but also filled with so much gratitude for what is next also this is God's timing and not mine I'm finally able to give myself a physical and mental break which I think is notable that she says that Cali uh God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers you'll see me being the biggest cheerleader on the sideline and unrivaled League see you soon so she seems in great spirits cie uh I'm sure it wasn't hard for her to receive this news that her season was going to beend ending but that was definitely a very encouraging message when she announced uh that her season would be ending yeah I mean I think what stood out to me there was her saying that you know she proved that she belonged in the WNBA when nobody else believed in her and I I kind of hate that she had to she felt that she had to fight against that narrative you know and then also saying that she needs like a mental and emotional break I think if you think about everything that she's been through from the end of her college career to or even like the like year like the last two years of her college career to to now it's been so much I think she's been under so much scrutiny she's been you know a target for a lot of racist vitriol and all these things and so many attacks on her skill as a player which is unreal to me because she has the most rebounds in WBA history not just for a rookie but for anyone and like that it seems feasible that she could make maintain that Mark without playing another game like she has 446 Asia Wilson is the next at 406 this season there are six games left and we don't even know if Asia's gonna keep playing you know we don't know Asia status so it's like feasible that a angel will end this season having made history and she still had to deal with so much negativity and so that's what kind of stood out to me from that announcement and I'm I like you said it's really cool that she got to control her own narrative because I think that there was a little bit of criticism when Teresa Weatherspoon and dress reporters and she said that she didn't know this the status of Asia's I mean Angel's injury and like obviously she knew that's that's what I kind of read into it because then teaspoon went on to say like I'll let her disclose the details that she wants to disclose and then later we got you know angel on Tik Tok and you know Tik Tok live explaining all the details and that she's getting surgery and that it's a hairline fracture and all this like we got all that information straight from Angel's mouth and I think that people aren't really accustomed to that but I think in Angel's case it's important because of how things get misconstrued as it pertains to her like even on in Tik Tok she was saying that people like she read somewhere that she wasn't playing the remainder of the season because she was pregnant like that's not that's crazy and then the fact that she even had to address that is absurd but at least she I haven't seen anybody like like reputable report anything like that so I mean I think I mean I'm not saying I'm not saying it was reputable but it's that like she's aware of it so obviously it's enough you know I just think it's important because a lot of times when people say all these people are saying this and this is like going around and people are reporting this and we we know that angel uh she doesn't based on some of her actions she's a little skeptical of the media and I'm not even saying that she's not right for that but I I haven't seen like anyone reputable reporting like really anything crazy about her status uh it's also not uncommon for like a coach to be like uh I'm not fully sure whatever I mean a lot of times they say that like right after a game but they do that a lot because teams don't like to disclose and get into things they're not always comfortable with what you know they're what what the players necessarily want out there so I didn't really understand the backlash to Teresa either because I've seen Steve Kerr do that so many times for The War I see lots of coaches do that um I definitely you know we were critical we I'm going to say me I'm not going to speak for you we critical of Kim Moi and how much she disclosed you know when when Angel missed games last year so it's it's pretty common for coaches to sort of do that a lot of them view it as protecting their players but you know what Cali you talked about some of Angel Reese's records and I just want to like read off some of the things that she's accomplished this season mentioned right now most total rebounds in the season were unclear if that record will stay intact but like you said currently 400 446 uh most double doubles by a rookie in a season second most in WNBA history that's 26 of them most consecutive double doubles she had 15 of them that's again in WNBA history only WNBA player to have 20 rebounds in three straight games most offensive rebounds in a season most rebounds per game in a season right now she finishes her season averaging 13.1 never been done in WNBA history fifth rookie in WNBA history to average a double double so only four other rookies have done it besides her and she was the first rookie with a double double in an All-Star Game th that's just to name a few right tremendous tremendous rookie season that many tried to minimize but the impact was so huge uh a lot of the support pouring in for her after she posted her message from players across the league really touched me they they they definitely made me a little emotional C so you know shout out to Angel Reese uh you know we just want to give her her flowers and acknowledge the season that she had and it's definitely disappointing that she will not uh be finishing off the season because she definitely has some more records to break but she mentioned in her post that she would be cheering her team on and cie she was definitely doing that yesterday I mean we got some great sideline video and images of Angel cheering on her team and quite frankly the sky you know of course we know that they need Angel Reese but yesterday it looked like no Barbie no problem I mean they they put a hurting uh you know on the Dallas Wings who really had something to play for like if they lost last night which they did they would be eliminated from postseason contention and they really didn't seem to come in there like they they were trying to chase that eighth spot Cali yeah I mean they had lost four games in a row after a three-game winning streak and and like you said there were really things on the line but Kennedy Carter scoring seven points in the first couple minutes of the game really gave this guy a good a good tone a good tone to start on and then they never trailed in the win like 92 to 77 that's a solid win and to never Trail just be ahead the whole way and kind of like get a glimpse of what you have like we saw Isabelle Harrison get her first start of the season and then finished with a season High we saw Camila cardoo double double like that is exactly what this guy need right now because they've made it clear like they want to go to the playoffs that's it that's the first thing Kennedy Carter said when she came back from being sick when she talked to reporters she was like I'm this this is it like whatever happened before I'm trying to make it to the playoffs and I love that energy and then she she backed it up with her play yeah and I mean I think it's important that that's been the messaging from Kennedy that's also been the messaging from Teresa Witherspoon and everyone like yeah we lost Angel Reese but we are still trying to make this the postseason and they're in very good position to still make the postseason and and be in the number eight spot right and you talked about Isabelle Harrison because I feel like some people have forgotten about Izzy and what she can do but she was tremendous last night like you mentioned and so between it was really a team effort and all around team effort from the sky you know Isabelle Harrison had 21 points nine rebounds we already showed Kennedy Carter stats 28 points four rebounds six assists and cie she did that on I want to be clear I want to get it right 58.8% from the field nearly 60% this is not a post who plays around the rim and is close to the basket I mean she's been incredible she was out due to health and safety protocols in her since her return the last two games she's averaging uh 21 points I believe and the team record is two and0 21.5 points 6.5 rebounds 6.5 assists which is really key uh those assists and getting her post open you talked about uh Camila cardoo and the fact that she had a double double and we know um Kennedy really helped to open up things for her post in her return so like again it's disappointing that angel won't be there but they can still you know push and make this this eighth seed and with Atlanta losing yesterday they now have a full one game uh uh lead on the Atlanta Dream they're a couple of games ahead of the Washington Mystics they no longer have to worry about the Dallas wings like we talked about they control their Destiny they will play Atlanta again but they also currently have the head-to-head tiebreaker you know so the sky can still make the postseason Cali you had said before you need the sky to be in the postseason you really wanted them to be there does angel Rees uh season and her injury that ended her season does that change anything for you you know okay so her absence makes it a little less sweet but it doesn't ruin the whole thing for me like I still get to see a rookie that I am really excited to see develop in Camila cardoso and then I get to see Kennedy Carter hopefully in the postseason who has had just just you know I've seen people talk about her in it's like the most improved player conversation and I don't really think that that's like her Ministry because the talent was never the question for Kennedy it's just about fit and so we're seeing what it looks like when she's in you know in a team that makes sense for her and a culture that makes sense for her but that like I said you know I'm a writer I love a good storyline and that's a storyline that I just want to see continue so even though I really wanted to see Angel Reese rookie season playoff birth like that was a really cool story that I was just exced to see playoff or play out in the playoffs you see that um but Kennedy Kennedy Carter and Camila make it make it like it's okay for me like it's a not a consolation but it it will like soothe my emotions after um Angel race and her season being over and like you said we'll see her from the sideline yeah and you know I think this will be um and I don't mean this in a negative way at all because she deserves the attention but there's been so much attention on this rookie class and particularly Angel Reese Caitlyn Clark that sometimes other players get looked over right and they and they should not be and Kennedy is so important to this team uh I agree with you I I don't think technically she can even win most improved player because she wasn't but I I think the award for her is comeback player of the year uh in my opinion and uh really if she didn't start her season similar to Ria except she's not a rookie she started on the bench for this guy but if she didn't start her season on the bench and if she didn't you know get interrupted her season interrupted with health and safety protocols I mean really Kennedy is looking at an All-Star season and probably even an all WNBA season she has been so tremendous so getting playoff Kennedy leading a team it being her team I would love to see that and I think you know Izzy has been injured for a while and like I said I think people forget who Isabelle Harrison is so that was on display so her having the opportunity to do that and Camila cardoo she is no while it will be new for her in the WNBA she's no uh she's very used to playing in you know the postseason and playing in important games and so we've seen such we talked about it last week we've seen such progress from Camila uh you know post the the Olympic break so I think you know I wouldn't pick them in a series over the Liberty but Kennedy Carter is unguardable I think it I think it would really be it would make for a really great Series so uh I do still hope that the Chicago Sky make it after all that they've had to go through this year so I think it will be really good one last question for you uh Cali we talked about you know the all rookie team last week uh you were prepared to put Cameron Brink on it so I assume that uh even with Angel going out with a few games left for the season that that won't impact her status of making your all rookie team when you put in your votes yeah you are 100% correct there's no way I'm not putting Angel re on my all rookie team because she missed the last six games you know what and I'm still thinking about putting cam Brink on there I saw y'all just as an aside she tried to call me out on Twitter and let the people know that I call you on my all rookie team but I didn't see I mean I saw it was a controversial take and that's you know what I will take it like I have no problem having a hot take I think we need more of those in WNBA coverage and I can't believe more people aren't talking about it like I need I need like a deep dive into Cameron bl's case for all rookie like somebody do do the story do the do the do the video essay I don't know but I need to see it shout out to Cameron rank she had put up a video recently about her injury Angel Reese put up one and used the same music so listen uh I won't youil this conversation about Cameron Brink but I'm just gonna say Callie's telling stories I was not trying to call her out someone was giving Cameron bring praise and I said this is why cie wants to put her on her all rookie team potentially I did not call her out in any way just because I don't agree with her hot take okay so please cie see girl trying to tell stories on me but y'all go on Twitter and support me Cam Cameron Brink fans because the the Kate Martin fans let me down when I was on my Kate Martin campaign nobody supported me and that campaign is over and done but come on what's the Cameron Brink fan base even called I don't know I don't know but Angel Reese will be on your all rookie team and that that is that's the takeaway and the sky sky still the limit for them this team has a very very good chance of making the the the postseason so looking forward to watching that that race to the end of the season the race for eight Cali thanks for joining me this has been such a fun conversation