Angel Reese’s Rose Club has been on a tear in Unrivaled, and the rebounding maestro has played a big part in the team’s success. The new 3-on-3 women’s professional basketball league, which is currently taking place in Miami, has allowed the 6’3 forward to thrive and build off a strong rookie season with the Chicago Sky.
Angel Reese has taken a massive leap in Unrivaled, and it’s great news for the Sky
The rookie has improved her finishing and continues to showcase prolific rebounding.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Through 10 games this season, Reese has averaged 13.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, shooting. Her 11.7 rebounds per game are also the most in the league — a league that includes standout bigs like Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, its two co-founders.
Reese also shot 47.3% from the field, a significant jump from her 39.1% shooting percentage in her rookie season with the Chicago Sky.
In turn, the Rose (6-4) have won four consecutive games and are moving up the league standings.
Last week, after Reese’s club defeated the Phantom, Phantom guard Natasha Cloud praised her growth.
“I think you guys see Angel’s greatness from college to her rookie season,” said Cloud. “There’s parts of her game that she’s going to continue to hone in on. She’s finishing better right now. Y’all better give her flowers, as much as y’all s**t on her, too.”
Cloud also credited Reese for the spirit she’s helped instill in the Rose Club with in the face of injuries.
“She’s also taking a lot of leadership with a Rose team that’s done a really good job of getting themselves back. They have injuries to their team, but they’re not pitying themselves. Angel is definitely setting the tone for them.”
Lexie Hull, one of Reese’s Rose teammates, has also praised that leadership.
“Her competitiveness is just so evident,” Hull said.. ”It’s obvious in practice. We do shooting competitions, she’s the loudest one in the gym.”
“As a teammate, that’s awesome,” Hull continued. “And it’s great to have her on your side. You see that come out in the game: she’s hyping everybody on the team up, you miss a shot, she’s there for you. That just really has stuck out to me.”
Reese is gearing up for her sophomore season in the WNBA
Reese is a few months away from tipping off her sophomore season with the Chicago Sky, which is set to debut on May 17 in Indiana.
This offseason, the Sky have prioritized adding talent around her and fellow rookie standout Kamilla Cardoso — they traded the No. 3 pick for two-time Washington Mystics All-Star Ariel Atkins, as well as sharpshooter Rebecca Allen, and signed Courtney Vandersloot and Kia Nurse via free agency. They also hired former Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh as the franchise’s new head coach.
