Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Angel Reese's Career Decision Takes Unfortunate Turn

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Mar 1, 2026 7:38 AM ET

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese initially opted not to participate in the 2026 Unrivaled season. It was quite a disappointing decision since she was part of the inaugural campaign in 2025 and even won Defensive Player of the Year.

Her team, Rose BC, also won the championship and entered the second year of the 3-on-3 league with high hopes.

In an unexpected twist, though, Reese rejoined Unrivaled late in the regular season. She signed with Rose BC again on Feb. 11 and proceeded to play in three games.

The Sky forward helped Rose BC secure a playoff spot, averaging 13.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks. The team finished with a 6-8 record, good for the fourth seed in the competition.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) looks on during an Unrivaled game with Rose BC.© Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Rose BC was pitted against the fifth-seeded Breeze BC in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately for Reese and company, their title hopes quickly disappeared after a blowout loss on Saturday.

Breeze BC, one of the newest teams in Unrivaled, made easy work of Rose BC with a 69-50 victory. Paige Bueckers, who was named to the All-Unrivaled First Team, dropped 29 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in the win.

Young center Dominique Malonga was unstoppable as well, recording 14 points and a monstrous 17 rebounds to help Breeze BC advance to the semifinals.

Unrivaled's second-best scorer this season, Chelsea Gray, was limited to 11 points on 5-of-18 shooting. During the regular season, she averaged 24.2 points in 14 games played.

Reese, for her part, came off the bench and tallied 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. However, her efforts were not enough to overcome the huge lead Breeze BC built through three quarters.

Breeze BC was ahead by 17 points, 58-41, entering the final quarter of play in their first-round showdown.

With that said, Reese and Rose BC were officially eliminated from the playoffs. They were competing for the $600,000 prize pool that will be awarded to the players of the 2026 Unrivaled champions.

Last year, Reese and her Rose BC teammates each received $50,000 for winning the title, according to ESPN.

While Reese's return to Unrivaled was short-lived, it will be interesting to see whether she returns next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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