Angel Reese gets love from three-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie after she leads Rose BC to the playoffs in the second edition of the Unrivaled League.
A turbulent WNBA season is giving way to a timely resurgence for Angel Reese.
After a 2025 campaign with the Chicago Sky that veered off course amid injuries and controversy, Reese has quickly shifted the narrative in the rising 3-on-3 landscape of the Unrivaled League.
Limited to 30 appearances last season, Reese never found sustained rhythm. Physical setbacks disrupted her availability, effectively derailing any realistic push for All-NBA honors. Chicago, meanwhile, failed to reach the postseason. Frustrations boiled over late in the year when Reese publicly criticized teammates following the team’s struggles — comments that led to a suspension and intensified scrutiny around the two-time All-Star.
The result was a season defined as much by turbulence as talent.
But the reset has been immediate.
Now suiting up for Rose Basketball Club in Unrivaled’s second season, Reese has reasserted herself as a force in the condensed, high-possession format. In one of her first two appearances, she delivered a nine-point, 15-rebound performance that helped push Rose BC into the playoffs. The stat line was vintage Reese — relentless on the glass, active defensively, and impactful beyond pure scoring volume.
Her performance did not go unnoticed.
Among those reacting publicly was Lisa Leslie, the three-time MVP and two-time WNBA champion whose résumé places her among the sport’s most influential figures. After Reese celebrated the playoff-clinching moment on social media, Leslie offered a succinct endorsement.
“Barbie’s just better,” Leslie wrote.
For Reese — often nicknamed “Bayou Barbie” dating back to her collegiate prominence — the acknowledgment carries weight. Praise from one of the league’s foundational stars signals validation beyond social media hype or box-score noise. It suggests that, despite last year’s turbulence, Reese’s trajectory remains firmly intact.
This marks her second stint in Unrivaled. During the league’s inaugural season, Reese played a central role in guiding Rose BC to a championship while earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. The format — faster pace, increased space, and amplified physicality — appears tailor-made for her motor and rebounding instincts.
In many ways, the environment accentuates her strengths. With fewer players on the floor and more possessions per minute, Reese’s activity level becomes even more disruptive. Rebounds ignite immediate scoring opportunities. Defensive switches demand versatility. The setting rewards players who thrive in chaos — and Reese often does.
The broader question now shifts back to Chicago.
As attention gradually turns toward the 2026 WNBA season, Reese’s ability to translate this confidence surge into sustained success with the Sky will define the next phase of her career. Talent has never been the issue. Consistency, availability and locker-room cohesion will be the variables to watch.
If Unrivaled is serving as both a proving ground and a reset button, it may be arriving at precisely the right moment. Momentum in basketball is fragile but powerful. Reese appears determined to carry this one forward.
For now, the focus remains on another potential Unrivaled title run. The competition has strengthened, expectations have risen, and Reese once again finds herself at the center of it.
This time, the narrative feels different.