MEDLEY, Fla. — Rising women’s basketball star Angel Reese was named Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday, shortly before the league announced she won’t play in Sunday’s semifinal playoff game.
Reese re-injured her surgically repaired left hand during the Rose’s regular season finale last Monday. It’s unclear if Reese will be available to play if the Rose advance to the Unrivaled championship game this Monday.
The Unrivaled playoffs begin Sunday night with two semifinal matchups beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. The No. 2 Rose will face the No. 3 Laces in the first game, while the No. 4 Vinyl will face the No. 1 Lunar Owls.
Both winners will advance to Monday’s championship game at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Unrivaled postseason will be broadcast by TNT and truTV on cable television, and available to live stream on Max.
Saturday’s news possibly marks the end of Reese’s run during the inaugural Unrivaled season, where the women’s basketball league has made significant strides as an offseason option for WNBA players.
“God, thank you for getting me through the highs & lows! Be where your feet are & allow yourself growth!” Reese posted on social media after winning defensive player of the year.
Reese was Unrivaled’s leading rebounder with 12.2 rebounds per game, while anchoring the Rose club’s defense, which held opponents to a league-low 65.2 points per game this season. Reese earned the honor after receiving the most combined weighted votes from Unrivaled players and coaches, and a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Reese, of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, was also named to the All-Unrivaled second team earlier this week.
Reese produced the first 20-20 game in Unrivaled history, when she scored 22 points with 21 rebounds against the Lunar Owls on Feb. 21. It was the Lunar Owls’ only loss at Unrivaled this season.
Reese also averaged 13.1 points per game, and was one of four Unrivaled players to average a double-double this season — Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas were the others.
Reese was also the first Unrivaled player to be ejected from a game following two technical fouls after a disagreement with a referee on Feb. 1.
Reese is one of the most popular figures in women’s basketball after winning a national championship at LSU in 2023. She was the No. 7 pick by the Sky in the 2024 WNBA draft, and led the league in rebounding as a rookie despite a season-ending wrist injury that required surgery.
Reese has also entered another stratosphere in popularity on social media and pop culture.
Reese graced the cover of Vogue Magazine in January, while the “Angel Reese Special” at McDonald’s has seen her name featured on cups and paper bags at the popular fast-food giant this year.
Reese’s “Unapologetically Angel” podcast was also named one of Spotify’s Best New Shows of 2024.
“At 22, it’s hard living this life,” Reese said after her 20-20 game. “But I’m grateful. I’m blessed. And being here at Unrivaled has been the best thing for me.”
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