Reese reclaims her dominant presence on the Unrivaled hardwood, injecting championship energy back into Rose BC's struggling lineup.
Angel Reese is headed back to Unrivaled.
According to ESPN's Kendra Andrews, the 3-on-3 league announced Wednesday that Reese will rejoin Rose BC for the remainder of the season, filling the roster vacancy created after Aari McDonald was ruled out with a right leg injury and a subsequent three-team trade reshaped the lineup.
Reese played for Rose during Unrivaled’s inaugural 2025 season but had initially opted not to participate this year.
Her return is a significant midseason boost for a Rose squad that has struggled to regain last year’s rhythm.
In 2025, Reese established herself as one of the league’s defining players. She led Unrivaled in rebounding at 12.1 boards per game, recorded eight double-doubles, and delivered the league’s first 20-20 performance with 22 points and 21 rebounds.
That stretch earned her Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped anchor Rose’s championship run, though she missed the semifinals due to a hand injury.
This season, Rose has lacked the same interior presence. After entering as a title favorite behind Chelsea Gray’s leadership, the team dropped three of its last five games and has fallen to the bottom of the league in rebounding at 30 per contest. Reese’s return directly addresses that weakness.
Even if it takes a game or two to settle back into the 3-on-3 flow, her impact on the glass is expected to be immediate. Paired with Shakira Austin, Rose now has one of the more dynamic frontcourt rotations in the league. Managing those minutes becomes the next challenge, but the talent level has clearly shifted.
Beyond the on-court implications, Reese’s return carries weight for Unrivaled itself.
The league is still carving out its long-term identity, and Reese has proven to be one of its biggest draws. Attendance spikes and social media engagement followed her performances last season, and her name consistently drives conversation. With viewership discussions circulating early in the year, adding one of women’s basketball’s most recognizable young stars back into the mix strengthens the product at a pivotal time.
For fans, the timing feels especially meaningful after Reese’s second WNBA season ended abruptly. After serving a half-game suspension for comments deemed detrimental to the team, she was sidelined with a back injury and did not return.
Outside of USA Basketball training camp appearances in December, she has largely been out of sight competitively.
With ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between the WNBA and players still unresolved, uncertainty clouds the broader professional calendar. Reese’s decision to return to Unrivaled guarantees that fans will see her back on the court sooner rather than later.