Angel Reese’s replacement is Chicago Sky’s No. 1 ‘need’ amid spring injury: Report

The Sky also selected former Notre Dame standout Maddy Westbeld in the second round. Westbeld is another big Chicago might have to rely on this season, depending on Reese’s durability.

Reese needed surgery after he injured her left wrist in September. She missed the final two games of the season and claimed the injury could have ended her career. Reese missed the Rose’s playoff games in the Unrivaled league this year because of an injury to her left hand.

Reese is participating in training camp, but the Sky might have to monitor her hand this season.

The Chicago Sky need to find help at center and forward

Per Julia Poe of the Chicago Sun-Times, finding Reese’s backup replacement is the Sky’s top priority in training camp.

“The Sky have one clear need in training camp: a backup forward to play behind Angel Reese,” Poe wrote. “Maddy Westbeld seems like the most natural option for a second-string as a stretchy four who can still compete physically with larger forwards at 6-foot-3.

“This also feeds into the answer to the second question regarding the final spot left on the roster. The Sky only invited two other bigs to training camp: 6-foot-5 center Jessika Carter and 6-foot-4 forward Morgan Bertsch. Westbeld would need to outplay these two players — who are more experienced, although they have struggled to stick on WNBA rosters.”

Poe thinks the Sky could cut one of their guards before the regular season to give Chicago more help at center and power forward. Given Reese’s injury history, the Sky need to make sure they have another power forward who can give the team rebounding help, something Westbeld did well at Notre Dame.

Westbeld averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game with the Irish.