‘Some things never change’ – Angel Reese’s Unrivaled debut mocked but fans jump to WNBA star’s defense amid backlash
The inaugural season of Unrivaled tipped off on Friday night in Miami. The new, professional women’s 3-vs-3 basketball league was founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, and runs for eight weeks during the WNBA offseason, consisting of 36 superstar players spread across six different teams with an average salary of more than $200,000 per player. Reese finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists on her Unrivaled debutGetty Ex-LSU star Angel Reese made her debut in the league, starring for Rose BC alongside Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Azera Stevens and Lexie Hull. Rose lost their opening game, falling 79-73 to Aliyah Boston’s Vinyl BC. Despite the defeat, Reese finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists — another double-double after the 22-year-old made them a regular occurrence during her rookie WNBA season. Although a solid display from Reese, some fans still found a way to criticise her. Footage of the Chicago Sky forward missing two layups back-to-back and ending up on the ground did the rounds on social media, with many mocking her. “Angel Reese cooking,” one person sarcastically wrote. “She’s getting worse,” added another. “Some things never change,” a third added. “Angel being Angel,” a fourth wrote. Reese’s shooting and missed layups were a big talking point in the WNBA in 2024. Reese went to work in the post and missed an initial layup attemptX@KiwiDusk She grabbed her own rebound and managed to put up another shot, that missedX@KiwiDusk It was a familiar sequence from her rookie WNBA season and as the opposition grabbed the miss with Reese on the floorX@KiwiDusk Reese has always been a physical beast and a strong, low-post operator, but her shooting form has always been widely mocked. Last season, she shot 39 percent from the field, 18.8 percent from 3-point range and just 73.6 percent at the free-throw line, while being ridiculed online for missing numerous easy layups. Many of her fans leapt to her defense after the wave of negativity on Friday night, highlighting all the good things she did while sharing other videos from the game of her balling out. One video showed her catching an inbounds pass before crossing her opponent up at the top of the key and sinking a sublime mid-range shot. “Props to her for making this shot,” posted one fan. Reese has not been afraid to speak out against those who have criticized her game in recent months. Fans pointed to the positive things she did, including a sumptuous mid-range shotX@JahMakesMoves Reese showed she can still score away from the basketX@JahMakesMoves View Tweet: https://t.co/NkCn8joURq Reese, who’s game has always been about defending and rebounding, clapped back at a troll who tried to mock her over her poor shooting percentages. “Do you realize I got drafted seventh in my class while ‘missing layups’ as a ROOKIE shooting 39 percent on the year and was STILL an All-Star and that was the worst you’ll ever see me?” Reese recently wrote on X. “Or you just laid up with your dog at home hating Adam?” Unrivaled’s regular season will run until March 10, with the highly-anticipated 1-on-1 tournament set to for February 10, 13 and 14. The four-team, single-elimination playoffs will start with the semifinals on March 16 and the championship on March 18. After playing in Unrivaled, Reese will then spearhead an exciting Sky team heading into the 2025 WNBA season with a new coach and championship aspirations. The 13-27 Sky failed to make the playoffs last season, prompting the franchise to part ways with former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon — who is Reese’s coach in Unrivaled with Rose — and replace her with Tyler Marsh. The 2025 WNBA regular season tips off on Friday, May 16, with Reese’s Sky taking on longtime rival Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever a day later in Indianapolis.
The inaugural season of Unrivaled tipped off on Friday night in Miami.
The new, professional women’s 3-vs-3 basketball league was founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, and runs for eight weeks during the WNBA offseason, consisting of 36 superstar players spread across six different teams with an average salary of more than $200,000 per player.
Ex-LSU star Angel Reese made her debut in the league, starring for Rose BC alongside Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Azera Stevens and Lexie Hull.
Rose lost their opening game, falling 79-73 to Aliyah Boston’s Vinyl BC.
Despite the defeat, Reese finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists — another double-double after the 22-year-old made them a regular occurrence during her rookie WNBA season.
Although a solid display from Reese, some fans still found a way to criticise her.
Footage of the Chicago Sky forward missing two layups back-to-back and ending up on the ground did the rounds on social media, with many mocking her.
“Angel Reese cooking,” one person sarcastically wrote.
“She’s getting worse,” added another.
“Some things never change,” a third added.
“Angel being Angel,” a fourth wrote.
Reese’s shooting and missed layups were a big talking point in the WNBA in 2024.
Reese has always been a physical beast and a strong, low-post operator, but her shooting form has always been widely mocked.
Last season, she shot 39 percent from the field, 18.8 percent from 3-point range and just 73.6 percent at the free-throw line, while being ridiculed online for missing numerous easy layups.
Many of her fans leapt to her defense after the wave of negativity on Friday night, highlighting all the good things she did while sharing other videos from the game of her balling out.
One video showed her catching an inbounds pass before crossing her opponent up at the top of the key and sinking a sublime mid-range shot.
“Props to her for making this shot,” posted one fan.
Reese has not been afraid to speak out against those who have criticized her game in recent months.
Reese, who’s game has always been about defending and rebounding, clapped back at a troll who tried to mock her over her poor shooting percentages.
“Do you realize I got drafted seventh in my class while ‘missing layups’ as a ROOKIE shooting 39 percent on the year and was STILL an All-Star and that was the worst you’ll ever see me?” Reese recently wrote on X.
“Or you just laid up with your dog at home hating Adam?”
Unrivaled’s regular season will run until March 10, with the highly-anticipated 1-on-1 tournament set to for February 10, 13 and 14.
The four-team, single-elimination playoffs will start with the semifinals on March 16 and the championship on March 18.
After playing in Unrivaled, Reese will then spearhead an exciting Sky team heading into the 2025 WNBA season with a new coach and championship aspirations.
The 13-27 Sky failed to make the playoffs last season, prompting the franchise to part ways with former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon — who is Reese’s coach in Unrivaled with Rose — and replace her with Tyler Marsh.
The 2025 WNBA regular season tips off on Friday, May 16, with Reese’s Sky taking on longtime rival Caitlin Clark‘s Indiana Fever a day later in Indianapolis.
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