Angel Reese Is Returning to Unrivaled…And Rose BC Just Became Dangerous Again

Angel Reese did not need Unrivaled this year and that’s what makes her return matter.

After yet another dominant WNBA season and a whirlwind offseason that included international brand appearances, USA Basketball training camp, and high-profile visibility across the sport, Reese had every reason to sit this Unrivaled season out. Initially, she did. She did not sign before the 2026 campaign began.

Now she’s back.

The 2025 Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year has agreed to a deal for the remainder of the 2026 season and will rejoin Rose BC on February 20 against Hive BC.

For Rose, Reese’s timing is a perfect one as they currently sit fifth in the standings at 5-6, fighting to secure position in the postseason. Only six teams will make the playoffs and there are only three games remaining in the regular season, so he return will pay a huge dividend.

This isn’t some celebratory moment, even though there’s a cause for celebration, this is a real need, and Reese fills it.

Reese wasn’t just productive during Unrivaled’s inaugural season. She was, like normal, generational. Reese led the league in rebounding at 12.1 boards per game, recorded eight double-doubles, and delivered the league’s first 20-20 performance with 22 points and 21 rebounds. She was named Defensive Player of the Year, anchoring Rose BC’s identity on the glass and on the defensive end.

Rose BC went on to win the championship, but Reese missed the semifinals due to a hand injury. That detail adds texture to this return. She helped establish the standard and now returns to help defend it.

Her presence changes second-chance opportunities immediately. Rose BC currently ranks last in total rebounds per game at 30.0. That number alone explains why this move is not about nostalgia. It’s about correction.

The Roster Context Makes This Bigger

Aari McDonald was ruled out for the season with a right leg injury. A three-team trade reshuffled depth. A roster spot opened. Instead of patching the hole with a role player, Rose BC inserted a former Defensive Player of the Year who led the league in rebounding.

Pair Reese with Chelsea Gray’s decision-making, Kahleah Copper’s scoring punch, Shakira Austin’s size, Lexie Hull’s versatility, and Sug Sutton’s pace, and the lineup becomes structurally balanced again.

Hull made her excitement public, posting “THE ROSEBUD WE’VE BEEN MISSING 🌹@AREESE.” That’s not just social media energy. That’s locker room acknowledgment.

This is a team that knows what it takes to win. Adding the league’s best rebounder to a roster that already has championship experience shifts postseason math quickly.

Reese hasn’t been playing organized Unrivaled basketball this season. Other players have been ramped up within the 3×3 format, which demands constant movement, quick decisions, and sustained physicality. There will be a rhythm adjustment.

However, Reese is a hard worker and continued to show just that in the offseason. The highlight of her basketball summer training might be literally donning the stars and stripes with USA Basketball activities, and working on skill development. Meanwhile on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, she described Unrivaled as a developmental laboratory. Best believe she’ll be using that lab where she can experiment and bring new elements back into the WNBA.

She isn’t returning for optics. She is returning for growth and competition.

In 3×3, impact is amplified. Rebounding percentages swing games. Defensive stops create immediate momentum.

Physical tone sets the pace.

This Is About Legacy 

Choosing to return signals  that she still prioritizes competitive development.

It signals that she wants to sharpen edges before the next WNBA campaign and before potential FIBA competition. It signals that championships, even in offseason leagues, matter.

If Rose BC makes another championship run with Reese reintegrated midseason, the narrative writes itself. A team that won without her in the semifinals brings her back and repeats. That kind of continuity reinforces identity.

The question is not whether she will impact the team. The question is how quickly that impact stabilizes into rhythm. Given her history in the league and her development approach, betting on a seamless transition is reasonable.

Angel Reese did not need to return.

She chose to.

And that decision just made Unrivaled’s postseason race significantly more interesting.