When Angel Reese entered Unrivaled, she had zero experience in the 3-on-3 format, and that’s why ESPN placed her and her team at the bottom of their preseason rankings. For a while, it seemed like they were right. But after a rough start, Chi-town Barbie flipped the script. As she got the hang of the game, she began dominating. Leading the league in rebounding with her 12.1 boards per game, she powered the team through an eight-game winning streak. As if that wasn’t enough, she became the first player in history to notch a 20-20 game in Unrivaled. “We have a chip on our shoulder right now. They ranked us at the bottom. We were the last team. Nobody believed in us, and we believed in each other in that locker room,” Reese said after one of their biggest wins. With Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper leading the charge, Rose BC found their rhythm. They took down top teams like Phantom BC and handed the Lunar Owls their first and only loss of the season.
Reese’s presence in the paint was unmatched, securing double-doubles night after night. But just when everything seemed to be lining up for a perfect playoff run, disaster struck. Days before the championship, Rose BC suffered a massive blow.
Angel Reese was ruled out with a hand injury, similar to the one she suffered before the regular season concluded. Thankfully, Reese has bounced back strong, she’s been spotted hitting the gym with trainers, doing shooting drills and squats with no signs of trouble.
And that was how, in a game where every possession mattered, Rose BC outworked Vinyl BC, securing the 62-54 victory and officially claiming the first-ever Unrivaled title. She even received an additional bonus of $50,000 for being part of the championship team. If you think it was just about the title and money for her, you might be wrong!
For Reese, it was always about the experience she gained. Notably, she worked closely with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie and refined her scoring and defensive skills. “Being here at Unrivaled has been the best thing for me,” Reese admitted. “It’s helped me grow, it’s helped me expand my game, and most of all, it’s made me stronger.”
And that’s true. During Unrivaled, Reese’s performance improved, averaging around 15.0 points per game with nearly 10 rebounds. Even her field goal percentage rose significantly to 47.3%. So, there’s no doubt she improved. In fact, it had been months since she nailed the championship title, but the impact is still ongoing.
At her first training camp press conference, Reese couldn’t resist highlighting the changes in her game that Unrivaled and Naphessa Collier’s co-founded league made.
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“I think this offseason was super important for me, being around vets. That was the best thing for me, being around vets and just seeing both sides. Things that we deserve. Unrivaled was the best thing for me, being able to develop a lot of things and just being able to see recovery, eating habits, and a lot of things,” she shared.
Well, that’s true, too. Reese averaged approximately 15.0 points per game, showcasing an improvement in her scoring ability. Reese led the league in total rebounds with 169, averaging around 11.4 rebounds per game, second only to Alyssa Thomas. Not just that, she was even named Unrivaled’s Defensive Player of the Year. All that she did was learn from experienced vets. But still, Reese is not satisfied.
Angel Reese, with the coaching change, is aiming for something big!
For Angel Reese, the ultimate goal is clear: winning. “Just winning, being consistent, and being there for my team every day… Obviously, things that I want to continue to work on,” she shared with confidence. It’s no surprise that, after a successful rookie season, she’s focused on fine-tuning her skills and being a constant force for the Chicago Sky.
While the transition to Coach Tyler Marsh after the firing of Teresa Weatherspoon was initially tough for Reese, she’s found a renewed sense of purpose under Marsh’s leadership. The change was heartbreaking at first—Weatherspoon had been someone who believed in her when many others didn’t.
But now, with Marsh at the helm, Reese is shifting her attention toward what lies ahead. And there’s good reason for that. Marsh, who spent years as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces, has already spoken highly of Reese’s rookie year, acknowledging the obstacles she’s overcome and the potential he sees in her.
“She’s doubted almost every year of her life and her career, and she continued to overcome,” Marsh said during an interview on the No Cap Space WBB podcast. “She hasn’t even scratched the surface yet of what I believe her potential could be.”
With that kind of belief coming from her new coach, Reese is more determined than ever to prove herself in the 2025 season. One of the challenges for her has been improving her finishing ability at the rim. During her rookie year, Reese struggled with her layups, which often led to a low conversion rate. But she’s been putting in the work.
Thanks to the guidance of WNBA legend Lisa Leslie, Reese has been fine-tuning her shooting mechanics. Her hard work is already paying off—her field goal percentage has risen to 47.3%, a marked improvement from her rookie season.
And it’s not just her scoring that’s improved. Reese’s game has evolved in other areas as well. Her rebounding, as expected, remains elite—her ability to control the glass is a huge asset. But now, Reese is expanding her skill set, developing her ball-handling and playmaking abilities.
She’s more confident as a passer, and it’s clear her all-around game is growing with every season. Her versatility is becoming one of her biggest strengths, and it’s turning her into a player that can impact the game in multiple ways.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. The WNBA’s getting tougher with new stars like Paige Bueckers and vets like A’ja Wilson dominating. Reese still needs to lock in her scoring consistency, especially those layups, and adjust to Marsh’s fast system, which might pull her out of the post more. “I’ve been counted out before, and I just keep showing up,” she told reporters at camp. With Marsh’s playbook, a stacked roster, and her Unrivaled lessons, Reese has everything she needs to tackle those challenges and shine.
So, with all these improvements and a clear focus on winning, can Reese back up her words and truly reach her potential? Will she be able to live up to the hype? Based on her work ethic, the support from her coach, and the improvements she’s already made, it certainly looks like Reese is on the path to becoming one of the league’s brightest stars. The 2025 season is set to be a defining one for her, and if the past year is any indication, Reese is more than ready to step up to the challenge.
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