In her first year at Unrivaled, Angel Reese was named Defensive Player of the Year and won the championship with Rose BC. Now, after returning to 3-on-3 competition, she averaged 13 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block per game, a performance that helped her team reach the playoffs, appearing in three games.
Interestingly, the WNBA and Chicago Sky star was not going to be part of the league’s second year, so she missed several games before changing her mind and re-signing on February 11. However, Paige Bueckers and Breeze BC ended her title defense from last year.
Reese and Rose eliminated from playoffs
With a 6-8 record, Rose BC was able to qualify in fourth place in the competition and faced the fifth-place team, Breeze BC. However, the team led by Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers achieved a crushing 69-50 victory over Reese and company.
During the game, while Reese came off the bench and added 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, Paige scored 29 points (the most in the game), four rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Together with Dominique Malonga and her 14 points and 17 rebounds, Bueckers and her teammates led Breeze to the semifinals and continue to fuel their dream of taking home the $600,000 prize pool.
In doing so, they eliminated Angel and Rose from the playoffs, putting an end to their quest for a second consecutive championship. In 2025, each team member received $50,000 for winning the title, according to ESPN.
This not only sets a precedent in Unrivaled’s history as the title changes hands, but also serves as a prelude for players and basketball fans ahead of the start of a new WNBA season, scheduled to begin on May 8, 2026. Despite this, negotiations between the league and the players remain stalled.
The dispute centers on the distribution of revenue. The WNB Players Association (WNBPA) is demanding a share of gross revenue, while the league insists on calculating revenue after deducting operating expenses. If a solution that satisfies both parties is not reached by March 10, a strike could be on the horizon.
Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Mist BC will face No. 5 seed Bueckers and Breeze this Monday at 8:45 p.m. ET in the semifinal. Phantom and Vinyl will face off in the other bracket on the same day at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The winning teams from the semifinals will face off in the grand final on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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