Paige Bueckers landed in the WNBA making her impact clear: a rookie season that led to her being almost unanimously chosen as Rookie of the Year and ignited the fanbase of the Dallas Wings. Now, her three-year contract with Unrivaled – the player-owned 3v3 league – and her role as one of the faces of the 2026 season open a new chapter in her career and in the media spotlight surrounding women’s basketball.
The move makes sense both athletically and commercially. Bueckers brings 3v3 experience (she was part of the U.S. team that won gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and collected national titles in that format), which adds competitive credibility to her brand value. Unrivaled benefits from a figure capable of drawing audiences beyond the traditional WNBA.
Paige with Angel Reese? The rumor lighting up fans
Fans are dreaming of seeing her paired with Angel Reese at Rose BC, and social media is already calling for the duo. Reese is a defensive powerhouse – winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award and last season’s rebounding leader – and her chemistry with Bueckers in a 3v3 format would be explosive both on and off the court.
Beyond the spectacle, the partnership could have a tangible impact: ticket sales, TV ratings, tours, and merchandise could all see a boost. As a player-owned league, Unrivaled has the ability to turn star pairings into commercial drivers that amplify interest in the WNBA during the offseason.
How it could affect the WNBA and the market
However, there are conditions: team composition in Unrivaled is handled by technical groups that balance positions and styles, and the league will add two new franchises (Breeze BC and Hive BC), which complicates “perfect” matchups. Additionally, Reese’s contract situation and her relationship with her franchise add an important variable to any speculation.
Bueckers signing with Unrivaled is already major news; the possibility of her playing alongside Angel Reese would be a sporting and commercial phenomenon. If the duo becomes a reality, it wouldn’t just be a 3v3 show – it would be an opportunity to rethink how the WNBA and new basketball platforms collaborate to grow and attract audiences.
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