Angel Reese and her hand injury status just got a major update, and fans are inching closer to seeing her back in condition in time for the tip-off of the WNBA 2025 season.
In a post on X, Angel Reese can be seen in a video working with Iren Rainey, with her injured hand now out of a cast.
Angel Reese back in the gym and out of that hand brace today.
She was ruled out of the final weekend of Unrivaled with a hand injury. Has been wearing a brace in all public appearances for the past three weeks.
Good sign for Angel less than three weeks out from training camp. pic.twitter.com/3k9ewJEzPi
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) April 8, 2025
Iren Rainey is a basketball trainer and player development specialist known for his innovative training techniques and impactful mentorship. He has worked with athletes at various levels, including NBA players, helping them refine their skills and improve their performance on the court.
Angel Reese suffered a hand injury during the inaugural season of Unrivaled, which significantly impacted her participation. She reinjured her surgically repaired left hand during the final regular-season game while playing for Rose BC.
This injury forced her to miss the semifinals and ultimately ruled her out of the championship game. Not only was she not able to play in the Finals game, but she even went on a flight on the day of the game, something that critics have called her out for.
Despite her absence, Rose BC managed to win the first-ever Unrivaled championship. They beat Vinyl BC with a final score of 62-54. Chelsea Gray was named the Finals MVP.
Analysts Attributes NCAA Viewership Decline to “The Angel Reese Effect”
Analyst and critic Jason Whitlock recently gave his honest take on the issue of teh NCAA finals getting less viewership this year compared to the past years, particularly during the time of Caitlin Clark with the Iowa Hawkeyes. For him, this is “the Angel Reese effect.”
Whitlock said in his post: “The Angel Reese Effect. Women’s college hoops not the same without her.”
The Angel Reese Effect. Women’s college hoops not the same without her. https://t.co/uPKqoogRPq
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) April 8, 2025
The 2025 NCAA championship game featuring Paige Bueckers and UConn averaged 8.5 million viewers, marking a 55% decline compared to the record-breaking 18.9 million viewers during Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate game in 2024.
Like Whitlock, fans have attributed the rivalry between Angel Reese and Clark as a contributing factor to the drop in viewership and interest.
Angel Reese had an impressive rookie season in the 2024 WNBA with the Chicago Sky. She averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Her defensive impact was notable, with 1.3 steals per game, and she led the league in rebounds, earning her the title of 2024 Rebounding Champion. Reese’s shooting efficiency included a 39.1% field goal percentage, 18.8% from three-point range, and 73.6% from the free-throw line.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
