This week, Rose BC forward Angel Reese made her highly anticipated return as competition heated up with playoffs on the line.
Unrivaled’s postseason is approaching quickly, with only one more day of regular-season games to come this upcoming Friday. The first round will begin on Saturday, causing some teams to have to play back-to-back days for the first time this season.
Reese’s return
In Reese’s return to the Unrivaled court, she recorded a near double-double with nine points and 15 rebounds. In her second game of the weekend, she scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Reese shared that she hadn’t played basketball in five months but instead was taking the time to prioritize her health. From her first game stats, it may be hard to believe that she hasn’t picked up a basketball in that long.
“I was just saying to Nola [Henry], this was what, my first game? I thought I was going to look a little rusty,” Reese told reporters after her second game back. “I did miss a couple shots in the first half, and then cleaned it up a little bit in the second half, but I knew my defense is something that I’ve always relied on, especially coming off last game, I knew that was a clean skill, so I wanted to get it back this game and just being able to be where my teammates need me to be.”
Reese has expressed her excitement to return to a league where she feels valued. During Unrivaled’s inaugural season, Reese consistently praised the league for the resources made available to its athletes.
“I think the fan support, the healthy fan support,” Reese said, reflecting on what her favorite thing is playing in Unrivaled. “…The media is healthy. I love you guys. You guys have been just nothing but amazing, and that’s a breath of fresh air for me. And just Unrivaled here, the environment, they set the standard of what it feels like to be a pro.
“I don’t have to ask for anything. I don’t have to go outside and get my own doctors or do my own meal prep or anything. They have everything right here in your hands, and this is what a league is supposed to look like. So they really set the standard for us, and I’m just really grateful what they’re able to do for us in the offseason.”
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When rosters were revealed before the start of the season, many were surprised not to see Reese’s name, but she had other plans. She said that Unrivaled has shared their interest in her playing even after the season kicked off.
“From the first day Unrivaled started, they’ve been calling me to come back, and they’ve been really consistent, because, I mean, they love me here, and I love Unrivaled as well,” Reese said. “Everybody’s called me from all teams, to my coaches, to my teammates, to come back. And obviously, I had some other things that I needed to do, and also prioritize my health. So it was just important me to for me to prioritize that.”
Reese wanted to make sure she was ready to come back before she said ‘yes’ to any offers. She was in Australia when she decided to rejoin the league and even told reporters that she was on a beach just last week.
Rose BC head coach Nola Henry is glad to have Reese back on her team just in time to make a run in the playoffs. Henry coached Reese last season and credits her rebounding for helping the Rose find success.
“We have Angel Reese, the best offensive rebounder, arguably in the world,” Henry told reporters. “So I think that’s what it comes down to… Offensive rebounding is hard. That’s an effort thing. Rebounding in general is an effort thing. So anytime players go out there and get offensive rebounds. Angel has seven. That’s just pure effort.”
Playoff contenders
With the 2026 playoffs beginning next week, we now know the six clubs that will be fighting for the crown. The clubs competing for a championship in order of standings are Phantom BC, Mist BC, Laces BC, Breeze BC, Rose BC and Vinyl BC.
Rose BC guard Chelsea Gray had a huge impact on her club, clinching a playoff spot this weekend. Gray made 10 three-pointers and scored the game-winner against the Laces BC to secure them a spot.
She even executed a new offensive move where, with her back to the basket, she let go of the basketball and shimmied before turning around to shoot the ball. The game highlight video spread across the internet.
Gray finished the game with 38 points and seven rebounds, which was her fifth 30-point game of the season.
Clubs that missed the cut
The Hive BC and Lunar Owls BC were eliminated from playoff contention after this past weekend.
Although the Hive BC did not make the cut, developmental pool player, Aziaha James had a standout game. She scored 22 points and added four rebounds in her second career game.
“This kid works super, super hard,” Hive BC head coach Rena Wakama told reporters. “You have to have a different mentality to be able to go from team to team. You know, especially being in a DP pool. But it doesn’t matter what team she’s on, she’s still her. So [I’m] super proud of her, and I’m glad she was able to have the performance she did tonight.”
James was asked about what she wants fans to know about her game after her huge performance.
“Just keep watching. Don’t count me out, because [I’m] definitely going count myself right back in, so just be ready for me working,” James told reporters.
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What went wrong?
The Lunar Owls started the season with injuries counting their star player and Unrivaled Co-founder Napheesa Collier out for the season. Injuries impacted their depth as other injuries arose, but they never gave up.
“I mean, in all honesty, I think that that’s not what I expected our team to do this year,” Lunar Owls BC guard Marina Mabrey told reporters after being disqualified from the playoffs. “So I didn’t expect us to be three and 10, because I also think that we had some injuries that really hurt us. But at the end of the day, we came and showed up every single day and never gave up. We fought every single game. We ran almost every single game. You weren’t just going to walk all over us, so that’s something to take pride in…And our coaches also stuck with us the whole season. So no, we didn’t expect for this to be the outcome this season, but we have a lot to be proud of, too.”
The Lunar Owls battled up to the last second in their game against the Vinyl BC on Monday. With playoffs on the line, the Lunar Owls were playing a must-win game, increasing their sense of urgency.
Despite their loss, Lunar Owls head coach DJ Sackmann spoke highly of his team’s effort.
“Couple things didn’t go our way,” Sackmann told reporters. “It was a tough loss. We’re frustrated, but it happens, especially in this three-on-three format, small runs, team gets team gets momentum at the right time, and it’s over for you. So I’m proud of the way we fought, though I thought we played really hard.”
Hive BC was a new club, with a majority of its players making their Unrivaled debuts. The Unrivaled season runs for only eight weeks, making it difficult to build team chemistry.
The Hive also lost wing Saniya Rivers after she was traded to the Vinyl BC. The absence of Rivers was felt especially on the defensive end of the floor.
“[Losing Saniya Rivers] affected our whole game, not only defense,” Wakama said. “We obviously were down Azura [Stevens] down, T [Natisha Hiedeman] now down Soso [Sonia Citron]. So, I literally only have four players to go to, two guards. It sucks, but huge credit to my team. Regardless of what we had, who we had, we still fought. Alright, we fought.”
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First 30-point games
This weekend, both Mist BC wing Breanna Stewart and Vinyl BC wing Rae Burrell recorded the first 30-point games of their Unrivaled careers.
On Saturday, Stewart recorded 31 points, shooting nine of 14 from the floor in the Mist BC’s 92-73 win over the Lunar Owls. She also added 13 rebounds to record a double-double.
Mist BC guard Allisha Gray and Stewart combined for 68 points in their win.
“Stew is a great player,” Gray told reporters postgame. “With her being on my team, I get a lot of open shots, so that’s great as well. But I mean, Stewie’s just a great person. She knows the game well. She gives me pointers on what she sees during the game, and I listen, and it works all the time.”
Burrell shot eight of 14 from the field (57%) to secure 30 points in their 75-68 win against the Lunar Owls.
“And the young lady, once again, here on my left, Rae Burrell, is really playing incredible basketball,” Vinyl BC head coach Theresa Weatherspoon told reporters postgame. “She plays fearless basketball, and that’s the kind of player you want to see every night, step between the four lines, doesn’t fear anything, doesn’t fear the moment. She lives for the moment.
“And that’s outstanding for us. So it’s been really good to see how she’s playing, and then everybody else is surrounding that, and the way that everybody played tonight was outstanding for us. That’s why we’re sitting here today with a win.”
Free throw challenge weekly update
After another week, A. Gray is leading the way, shooting a perfect 100% from the free-throw line with 14 total attempts. The first free-throw challenge winner of the season, Breeze BC guard Paige Bueckers follows A. Gray, making 16 of her 17 attempts (94.1%).
Unless A. Gray were to miss multiple free throws on Saturday, she will most likely take home the $50,000 prize. A Gray is the only player still with a perfect free-throw percentage.
Other players in the top five include Lunar Owls BC guard Skylar Diggins, Stewart and Phantom BC guard Kelsey Plum.
Unrivaled will play one more day of regular season games on Friday, featuring all eight clubs, before the 2026 playoffs kick off on Saturday.
Here is Friday’s schedule (all times in ET). All games will be streaming on truTV and HBO Max. Friday’s games will also show on TNT.
Friday, February 27
Hive BC vs Lunar Owls BC (1:00 p.m.)
Mist BC vs Vinyl BC (2:15 p.m.)
Rose BC vs Phantom BC (7:30 p.m.)
Breeze BC vs Laces BC (8:45 p.m.)