Angel Reese has agreed to sign a rest-of-season contract with Unrivaled, the league announced on Tuesday. Reese, who played in Unrivaled in its inaugural season last year, will make her return to Rose BC on February 20 for the club’s matchup against Hive BC.
Reese’s addition to Unrivaled comes shortly after the league announced a midseason trade that sent Courtney William from the Vinyl to the Breeze, Saniya Rivers from the Hive to the Vinyl, and Azurá Steven from the Rose to the Hive. Steven’s departure opens up a slot for Reese in the frontcourt.
The Rose, defending champions, currently have a 5-6 record, which is good for fifth-best in the league. Now, they’ll be bolstered by the presence of one of the league’s most dynamic players, who was also named Defensive Player of the Year last Unrivaled season.
Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league founded by Naphesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, is in its second season.
The Rose have been a middle-of-the-road team so far this season
Reese will join former Rose teammates Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, and Lexi Hull. This season, Shakira Austin, Sug Sutton, and Haley Jones are new additions to the roster.
Last year, the Rose won the title, though Reese missed the championship game nursing a wrist injury.
This season, the Rose club has been led by Gray (25.1 points, 6.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds), Copper (19.3 points, 4.9 rebounds), and Austin (16.5 points, 8.6 rebounds).
So far this season, Unrivaled’s best teams have been the Laces (8-2), Phantom (8-3), and Mist (7-4). The Laces have been led by Brittney Sykes (18.9 points), Jackie Young (16.4 points, 3.9 assists), and Alyssa Thomas (11.6 points, 7.6 rebounds).
The Phantom have been led by Kelsey Plum (22.4 points, 5.5 assists), Aliyah Boston (19.9 points, 19.1 rebounds), and Kiki Iriafen (11.5 points, 4.6 rebounds).
The Mist have been led by Allisha Gray (20 points, 3 assists), Breanna Stewart (19.7 points, 9.4 rebounds), and Arike Ogunbowale (14.5 points).
Whether Reeese’s arrival elevates the Rose remains to be seen — if nothing else, it will surely draw in viewers eager to watch her make her season debut.
Last month, Reese quote-tweeted an Unrivaled highlight on social media, writing: “ugh I kinda miss it.”
The Unrivaled season will end on February 27th, and the postseason will subsequently begin.
