Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese, who led the league in rebounds (13.1 per game) and ranked second among rookies in points per game (13.6), steals per game (1.3) and player-efficiency rating (17.6), rocked the sports world when she announced Saturday night vial social media that her season as over prematurely due to a wrist injury.

HIGHLIGHTS: Angel Reese scores career high in Sky victory over Fever | June 23, 2024

Many suspect Reese’s injury may be serious if the Sky are shutting her down with six games remaining in the regular season and the team fighting for the WNBA’s eighth and final playoff spot.

However, there’s another segment of the fanbase that believes shutting Reese down for the rest of the season is part of a larger conspiracy theory for the Sky to tank for a better draft pick, and they weren’t shy about sharing their suspicions of chicanery on social media.

Angel Reese announces her season is over as Caitlin Clark Rookie of the Year race may now be decided | Fox News

“Sky tryna go full tank mode for Paige (Bueckers)?” one fan tweeted.

“That podcast must’ve brought in some cash. She out! OR the Sky ready to really tank to get a lottery pick. [I’m] pickin the second,” another commented.

“The Chicago Sky just got bailed out and now they have an excuse to tank the rest of the season. With or without Reese they were going to get swept in the playoffs and lose out on the draft lottery,” a third remarked.

“My theory is that I think the sky management shut angel down for the season as a reason to tank. Angel can’t shut herself down. I’m not saying she’s faking an injury. I’m saying sky ran with it,” reasoned another user.

“She had her best game of the year, the team is tanking and wants to lose the rest of their games. I see why conspiracy theories exist lol AR cannot gain anything by playing another minute this season. No awards are within reach so go out on top, and help your team tank too,” another fan stated.

Chicago has lost eight of 10 games since the Olympic break, and if it did secure the No. 8 seed in the playoff field, the chances of the team getting past the No. 1-seeded New York Liberty are slim.

So it would make sense for the team to at least consider packing it in and trying to land another Reese-type player in the 2025 draft class, which boasts UConn’s Paige Bueckers, LSU’s Aneesah Morrow and USC’s Kiki Iriafen at the top.