Angel Reese appeared to suggest she wants to leave the Unrivaled League after being ejected from one of the games, with the start of the WNBA season with the Chicago Sky looming large on the horizon.
Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart‘s new league aims to promote women’s basketball and issues surrounding pay in the WNBA, as well as ensuring professionals don’t have to head to Europe or Asia to top up their salaries.
It features a three-versus-three structure on a full length court in Miami, with some adapted rules such as a shorter shot clock time, to try to offer a new kind of entertainment for fans of the sport.
But now it finds itself in controversy after the 22-year-old Reese was ejected from a Rose BC game against Vinyl BC, becoming the first player to ever be tossed out after earning two technical fouls within moments.
Firstly, the ex-LSU Tiger was called for trying to take the ball from Tiffany Hayes before she then made a gesture towards the referees. Refusing to calm down, she then carried on arguing and earned her trip for an early shower.
Clearly, time hadn’t helped her move on from the incident as she later took to social media to suggest she’s ready to quit and head back to the Windy City, to warm-up for the 2025 WNBA year.
“Can’t wait to get back to chicago mannn,” Reese posted to X.com, formerly Twitter, on February 1 in a cryptic message. It’s unclear if she’s saying she wants to quit Unrivaled or just misses her bed, but either way she’s unhappy.
When is the WNBA back?
Rose BC eventually went on to lose the game 79-73, thanks to a stellar performance from Vinyl BC’s Rhyne Howard, who posted 33 points.
Reese, at the time, also seemed set for a memorable night at the office by racking up 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in just 13 minutes of action; before things soured on the court and on social media.
The 22-year-old, dubbed Chi Barbie, will be on the WNBA courts on May 17 when she takes on Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever to open the 2025 campaign. She is looking for her first postseason appearance.