It is an exciting time for women’s basketball, and nothing exemplifies that more than a brand-new league kicking off its inaugural season in January. Unrivaled Basketball is a new 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
Unrivaled offers WNBA players the opportunity to make money playing basketball during the offseason without having to go overseas. For fans, it is a chance to watch almost all of the league’s top players in one place. Unrivaled will feature several big names, even after Kelsey Plum decided to drop out. One of those names is Angel Reese, who already made a name for herself in her rookie season with the Chicago Sky.
As a rookie, Reese already made her first All-Star game, led the WNBA in rebounding, and broke several records. Nevertheless, she is still far from her prime as a basketball player, and playing for Unrivaled this offseason will help Reese’s development.
Reese can benefit from her time with Unrivaled in several ways
Angel Reese will play for the Rose Basketball Club alongside Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Lexie Hull, and Azurá Stevens. Her teammates are one reason why Reese should be able to benefit from her Unrivaled experience. She will be surrounded by several veterans who have already put together successful WNBA careers. Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, and Azurá Stevens have all won championships throughout their careers and can show Reese what it takes to win at the highest level.
Especially Gray should help Reese’s development on and off the court. She is called the “point gawd” for a reason. Gray is one of the best passers and playmakers in the game and will put Reese in a position to succeed.
Furthermore, Reese will be surrounded by several good 3-point shooters. That combined with the extra spacing players already have in a 3-on-3 situation, will allow Reese to work on her inside game without having defenders pile up around her.
Since Unrivaled Basketball games will be played on a full court, matchups will feature an incredibly fast pace and lots of running. Reese will undoubtedly enter the 2025 WNBA season in great shape after competing in Miami.
Most importantly, however, Reese will be playing with and against some of the best players in the world. She will be constantly surrounded by greatness and have opportunities to learn from teammates and opponents alike. Playing against such strong competition also means that Reese will be challenged on both ends of the floor. That will help prepare her for when the Chicago Sky are ready to compete at a high level in the W and allow her to not only recognize her weaknesses at another level but also to work on them.
Unrivaled Basketball is a huge opportunity for female basketball players—especially considering the TV deal the league already secured and how many tickets were already sold—and Reese has the opportunity to help the league get off to a great start while improving her own skills.