Angel Reese has once again silenced the doubters. After a turbulent start to the season, Rose BC defied expectations to claim the Unrivaled 3×3 championship.
The victory was especially sweet for Reese, who, despite missing the playoffs due to a lingering wrist injury, played a pivotal role in her team’s success throughout the season.
The Chicago Sky star wasted no time celebrating, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to bask in the moment. Her post-“WHAT YALL GON SAY NOW??”-sent waves across the basketball world, triggering a mix of admiration, debate, and, as always, comparisons to longtime rival Caitlin Clark.
From underdogs to champions
Rose BC‘s championship journey was anything but smooth. The team struggled early in the season, sitting at 1-4 before finally climbing above .500 on February 21.
Even ESPN had written them off, predicting they would finish at the bottom of the league standings. But Reese and her teammates proved otherwise, embarking on a dominant eight-game winning streak that solidified their place as championship contenders.
Reese was instrumental in their resurgence. She led the league in rebounding with an impressive 12.1 boards per game, earning the title of Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year.
She also became the first player in the league’s history to record a 20-20 game, further cementing her reputation as an elite competitor.
However, a nagging wrist injury forced Reese to sit out the playoffs, leaving Rose BC without one of its biggest stars. That didn’t stop Azura Stevens and Brittney Sykes from stepping up in a major way.
In the championship game against Vinyl BC, Stevens dominated in the paint, putting up 19 points and 18 rebounds, while Sykes led all scorers with 21 points, securing their 62-54 victory.
No Reese achievement seems to go without someone bringing Caitlin Clark into the conversation. As soon as Rose BC was crowned champions, a fan posted: “And y’all said Angel wouldn’t win a professional ring before a certain somebody else.”
Although Clark opted out of Unrivaled this season to focus on WNBA preparations, fans wasted no time reviving the debate over who will have the better pro career.
Some argued that Clark‘s absence made the win less significant, while others defended Reese, pointing out her dominant performance before her injury.
These comparisons aren’t new. The Reese vs. Clark rivalry dates back to their college days, when Reese’s LSU team defeated Clark’s Iowa squad in the 2023 NCAA Championship.
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