Angel Reese surprised fans by expressing regret for missing the second season of Napheesa Collier‘s Unrivaled tournament, after opting to sit out to focus on recovery and her WNBA offseason commitments.
Reese, a two-time WNBA All-Star, was pivotal in Rose BC‘s championship run during Unrivaled‘s first season, where her defensive prowess and fast-break scoring helped her earn Defensive Player of the Year and a spot on the All Unrivaled Second Team.
The 23-year-old missed the second season entirely, despite the alternative league’s rising popularity and expanded rosters, with no official reason provided; she had finished the 2025 WNBA season recovering from a back injury and prioritized staying healthy for Year Three.
On Monday, January 26 Reese reposted a fan-made highlight reel from her first Unrivaled season, showing a fast-break layup after forcing Collier into a turnover, sparking fans to reminisce and comment on her absence this year.
“Ugh I kinda miss it,” Reese wrote on X.com, formerly Twitter, signaling a mix of nostalgia and regret for missing the competition, which fans immediately picked up on, prompting a flood of supportive and surprised responses across social media.
Off the court, she has remained active, appearing in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in October, and last month, she participated in Team USA‘s senior women’s national team training camp at Duke University, marking her debut at that level.
During her second WNBA season, Reese averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45.8% across 30 games, yet chose to sit out Unrivaled to protect her body, emphasizing the importance of a full recovery for the upcoming May season.
“I recovered at the end of the season,” Reese explained. “Just continuing to do recovery on my whole entire body and figuring it out. Going into Year 3, that was my focus this offseason, just being completely healthy.
“Obviously USA is something that I’m never going to pass up on, so I had to do this, but being able to be in this moment here and embracing it, but also being healthy at the same time.”
Reese stuns fans with latest selfie
Reese has captivated her followers by sharing a glimpse into her offseason training routine, documenting her progress in a mirror selfie that highlighted her dedication to maintaining peak athletic form while preparing for professional competitions.
The Chicago Sky standout, also known as the “Bayou Barbie,” wore a coordinated gray workout set with a sleek sports bra and high-waisted leggings, emphasizing her sculpted abs and toned physique, while her belly button ring added a personal touch to the photo.
Her hair, styled in long, voluminous dark waves, cascaded over her shoulders, held back with a white hairband, creating a striking visual that perfectly complemented her form and highlighted the effort she’s putting into staying in elite shape. Fans quickly reacted to the post, flooding social media with admiration.
One fan wrote, “Okay!!!??? BODY IS TEEEAA!!!??”
A second said, “???? the abs are coming ?”
And a third gushed, “Body so fine??”
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