INDIANAPOLIS — One day after Angel Reese and Esthenthe Chicago Sky announced that Reese had suffered a season-ending wrist injury, Caitlin Clark called the news about her fellow WNBA rookie "devastating."

"It's obviously, definitely sad, anytime you see anybody go down with an injury, especially people that you came into this league with, whether it was Cam (Brink), whether it was Angel, and especially Angel. Like, you want to see her finish out this year, obviously, she's had a historic year, and she's done some incredible things," Clark said Sunday in her pregame news conference prior to the Indiana Fever’s game with the Atlanta Dream.

"For me, getting to play against her, her motor is up there, if not the best in the league, like she just doesn't stop working," Clark said. "So you know, congratulations to her, I thought she had a tremendous year, and I thought she came to the league and really did what she's done well her entire career, as long as I've known her. So it's definitely devastating. That's never anything you want to see from a player.

"And then obviously, our rookie class has kind of been hit with a few more injuries than you would have liked to see."

Clark also was asked what it was like for her trying to stay healthy playing all but a few minutes of every game.

"I think, for myself, I think just some of those things you can't avoid, especially in their two instances," Clark said. "Obviously, I don't know the specific details, but that's kind of what comes with basketball at times. So, you know, it's sad for them, but I think at the same time for myself, just continue to take care of your body, take care of yourself. It becomes a long season, especially when you're playing games with one day in between. You really have to prioritize that. But like I said, some of those things are just unavoidable and it's sad to see."

Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, and Reese, the seventh pick, have both had record-breaking rookie seasons, with Clark the strong favorite to become WNBA rookie of the year.

Editor’s note: Christine Brennan is writing a book on Caitlin Clark and the revolution in women’s sports to be published by Scribner in spring/summer 2025.