With time ticking toward the start of the WNBA season and no labour agreement in sight, uncertainty is no longer abstract.
Another meeting between the league and the players passed on Monday without a breakthrough, leaving major questions unanswered just three months before opening night.
Against that backdrop, Angel Reese has openly acknowledged that her future plans may not be limited to the United States.
Reese was recently in Australia promoting her new Reebok signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1 in Rose Dust. While speaking during the visit, she floated the idea of eventually playing there, even if only briefly.
“Maybe, maybe one day. I do like Australia, so maybe I’ll come out here to play one game or two,” Reese said.
Australia has long been a familiar and welcoming option for elite American players. Over the past five seasons, Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey and Jordin Canada have all spent time in the WNBL.
Han Xu is currently playing in Perth and is expected to return to the U.S. league afterward. Reese considering a short stint there would follow a well-established path rather than break new ground.
Her connection to Australia is also personal. During her college career at LSU Tigers women’s basketball, Reese won an NCAA championship alongside Australian guard Last-Tear Poar. That experience shaped her view of Australian basketball and left a lasting impression.
“You guys are great defenders,” Reese said. “My favorite defensive teammate is Last-Tear, she is literally risk it all. I remember one time she got a charge, hit her head on the ground, but she risked it all for the team. It gives me chills now, talking about it as we won a national championship together. Knowing (Aussies) always have your back, they’re competitors and great people.”
Overseas appeal grows as negotiations drag on
Reese‘s praise taps into a deeper tradition. Australian players have long been respected for their defensive intensity and team-first approach, from Michele Timms and Sandy Brondello to Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor.
That reputation remains strong today. Alanna Smith was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year last season, while Ezi Magbegor earned All-Defensive First Team honours the year before and has since added two Second Team selections, most recently in 2025.
The timing of Reese‘s remarks matters because of what is happening back home. The league and the players recently held their first in-person CBA meeting since October, a three-hour session in New York that both sides described as “helpful.”
Still, the distance between them remains clear. Nneka Ogwumike told Front Office Sports that players were frustrated the league did not arrive with a counterproposal to the union’s latest offer.
Read the full article here
