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Angel Reese’s rookie season was spectacular, setting new records in what she does best, rebounding and dominating the paint. I can’t say for sure, but maybe in any other season Reese’s stats would have worked for her to win the Rookie of the Year award, but this year with the presence and dominance of Caitlin Clark, added to Reese’s injury, it looked impossible for the seventh pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, even after a record-setting rookie campaign for Reese. Reese finished with 446 rebounds, surpassing Sylvia Fowles’ single-season record of 404, which was later surpassed by MVP A’Ja Wilson.
No, not really. The former national champion with LSU will join a select group of top WNBA players in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league founded by recently crowned New York Liberty champion Breanna Stewart and Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up with the Minnesota Lynx, Napheesa Collier. Reese was asked by Athlon Sports: “You have been associated with the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league. What are your hopes for the first season of the league and what do you hope to accomplish by playing there?” This was her answer:
I’m excited for the league’s first season! It’s amazing to be a part of a league that gives equity to players. I’m looking forward to playing with the best athletes and really using the time to focus on my game and getting better too.
Unrivaled is an innovative 3v3 professional women’s basketball league featuring 6 teams with 5 players on each team. The inaugural season will begin in Miami in January 2025. Reese will be joined by WNBA playersChelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, Jackie Young, and of course Stewart and Collier. It’s surprising that Caitlin Clarkwon’t be joining, as we know how she could elevate this league, but she probably prefers to rest up after a few years where her basketball skills catapulted her to incredible fame.
League co-founder Collier recently revealed on X that the winner of the 1v1 tournament will receive a massive grand prize of at least $250,000. She also explained how she convinced Reese to join the league, mentioning that “Angel is a businesswoman and understands the importance of these ventures”. Angel currently hosts her own podcast, Unapologetically, and has nearly 80,000 followers on Instagram.
