Angel Reese shines in 2026 debut
on friday, Angel Reese she made it Unrivaled season debut, scored 13 points and grabbing eight rebounds for Rose BC in an 80-78 loss to Hive BC at Sephora Arena in Miami. Reese shot effectively, going 6-for-9 from the field and 1-for-2 from the free throw line, contributing in just 10 minutes of action.
The 23-year-old was not originally expected to play this season but filled the vacated spot on Rose BC’s roster after Azura Stevens was traded to Hive BC in a rare triple-league trade. The deal also included Vinyl BC guard Courtney Williams moving to Breeze BC and Hive BC guard Sunny Rivers heading to Vinyl BC. Reese’s return, which Unrivaled announced on February 11, was made possible by the opening created by Aari McDonald’s season-ending right leg injury.
SHE IS BACK 😇
Angel Reese went 4 of 4 from the field for 8 points in the first quarter in her unparalleled season debut 🔥pic.twitter.com/8mRjjvoZ8r
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 21, 2026
Rose BC, now 5-7, is in fifth place with two games remaining in the regular season, competing for one of six playoff spots. The match with Hive BC was fiercely competitive, with 19 lead changes and 16 ties throughout the game. Hive guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 27 points, including the game-winning layup, while Reese’s former teammate Stevens had 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Rose guard Kahleah Copper led the team with 29 points, supported by Shakira Austin’s 17 points and nine rebounds.
Reese returns to the league with an impressive resume unmatched. Last season, she led the league in rebounding with 12.2 per game, recorded eight double-doubles and went 20-20 in the league’s first game. Her performance earned her the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year award, despite missing the semi-finals with a hand injury. Rose BC won the inaugural championship without her in the playoff round.
Reese’s unparalleled playmaking success carried over to the WNBA, where she averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game in her second season with the Chicago Sky. She is also set to make her debut for the US senior national team during the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament on March 11, 2026.
2026-02-21 11:59:00
