Angel Reese's reunion with her former team ended early Sunday after the Atlanta Dream forward suffered a left leg injury during a 93-91 victory over the Chicago Sky.
The 24-year-old appeared to hurt herself just 14 seconds into the fourth quarter while attempting a layup at Gateway Center Arena.
Her left leg appeared to give out as she missed the shot and fell to the floor. Reese briefly got back up before going down again and eventually made her way to the Atlanta bench, where she was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko later said Reese was in good spirits with her teammates but indicated that he was not comfortable putting her back on the court because she appeared to be in significant pain.
"When I was looking at her, it seemed like she was in a lot of pain, and she wanted to go out there and keep playing... I just didn't feel comfortable with it because she looked like she was in a lot of pain," Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said.
The Dream did not immediately announce a specific diagnosis, leaving questions about the severity of the injury and whether Reese will be able to participate in the WNBA All-Star Game on July 25. Atlanta's next game is not scheduled until July 29, potentially giving her additional time to recover.
While there is no confirmed diagnosis for Reese, a sudden feeling that the knee or leg is "giving out" can have several causes, from a relatively minor sprain to a more significant ligament or cartilage injury.
Why Can an Athlete's Leg Suddenly Give Out?
The knee is a complex joint supported by ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and muscles. High-level basketball places considerable demands on these structures through jumping, landing, pivoting and sudden changes in direction.
An athlete's knee may suddenly feel unstable after an injury to one of the ligaments that helps keep the joint stable. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, for example, can occur when an athlete suddenly stops, changes direction, pivots or lands awkwardly. Symptoms may include pain, swelling and a sensation that the knee is unstable, buckling or giving out.
A meniscus tear is another possibility. The menisci are pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers in the knee. A sudden twist while bearing weight can damage this cartilage, potentially causing pain, swelling, stiffness, locking or instability.
However, not every athlete who experiences a leg giving out has torn a major ligament. Muscle strains, tendon injuries, joint inflammation, bone injuries and other conditions can also affect an athlete's ability to bear weight.
What Warning Signs Should Athletes Watch For?
A knee or leg injury deserves prompt medical attention if an athlete experiences significant pain, rapid swelling, difficulty bearing weight or persistent instability.
A popping sensation at the moment of injury, immediate swelling or an inability to continue playing can also signal a potentially serious knee injury. Because several structures can be damaged by the same movement, doctors typically need a physical examination and, when appropriate, imaging tests to determine what happened.
For athletes, the instinct to "play through the pain" can be strong. But returning to competition before an injury has been properly assessed may increase the risk of worsening the original injury or causing additional damage.
Why Rest and Rehabilitation Matter
Recovery from a sports injury is rarely as simple as waiting for the pain to disappear. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may involve rest, activity modification, physical therapy or surgery.
Rehabilitation typically focuses on restoring strength, flexibility, movement and stability before an athlete returns to full competition. For some ligament injuries, returning too quickly can leave the joint vulnerable to further damage.
Repeated episodes of the knee giving out after an ACL injury, for example, can contribute to additional damage involving cartilage, the meniscus, bone or other ligaments.
There is no publicly confirmed diagnosis explaining why Reese's leg appeared to give out, and it would be premature to assume she has an ACL tear, meniscus injury or another specific condition.
The immediate priority is determining the cause of the injury and its severity. That evaluation will ultimately determine whether Reese needs only a short recovery period or a more extended rehabilitation program.
