Chicago Sky star Angel Reese is one of 36 WNBA With some outstanding players playing in Unrivaled this winter, her first impressions of the new professional 3-on-3 basketball league couldn't have been more positive.
“I want to be here forever,” Reese said in Unrivaled's first media appearance. “Everything you need is here, from massages to cold baths to resources and training.”
That has been the goal of the league's leadership from the beginning. It was about allowing players to train in world-class facilities and having everything that could help them train at their fingertips.
The venue itself aims to provide all Amenities and services are provided for unparalleled athletes, including mothers who bring their children to nine-week league competitions. There is a hair and makeup room, childcare center, esthetician, etc. on site.
“We are going to provide childcare services to mothers upon arrival,” league president Alex Buzzell told SB Nation. “For athletes, we have everything they need under one roof for everything on and off the court.”
Reese, who just completed his All-Star rookie season with the Sky, is one of the biggest names in the league. But she's joined by a host of other stars, including Brianna Stewart and Nafeesa Collier (two of the league's co-founders), Sabrina Ionescu, and dozens of others.
Angel Reese wants to learn from Rose Club veterans
At the Rose Club, Reese will be teammates with Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces). Carlea Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Britney Sykes (Washington Mystics), Lexi Hull (Indiana Fever), Azura Stevens (Los Angeles Sparks). That team — one of six clubs in the 3-on-3 league — is led by Nora Henry, who was an assistant coach with the Sparks last season.
Reese expressed how much he values the opportunity to learn from his new teammates. Two of her teammates, Copper, 30, and Gray, 32, won Finals MVP awards and are highly regarded as the league's top veterans.
“I was so excited to join this crew,” Reese said. “I feel like I can get strength from everyone on this team. If it's leadership, it's veteran leadership. Lexi brings a lot of defense, I've been playing against Lexi for a while. .”
“Oh, obviously, she's won championships and accomplished a lot. I've been watching the players since college, and of course it's only a year, but she's trying to get as much as she can while she's here. I was able to get information from them. They were like a sponge for me and I got along very well with them.”
Copper said she was impressed by Reese's genuine interest in learning from veterans.
“There's a lot of young players in the league who are like, 'I want to learn, I want to learn from the great players,'” Copper said. “And you tune in to them, but they don't listen, and they do what they want. She communicates and listens. She really wants to learn. I watch her grow every day.”
Angel Reese talks about what it's like to play with veterans like Carlea Copper. Hmm Would do it for her game.
“I know how important it is to have a veterinarian who is willing to provide care to you…I'm excited to be that veterinarian now.” – Carlea Copper pic.twitter.com/KfChsAztX9
— Natalie Esquire (@natfluential) January 8, 2025
Reese, who set the WNBA rebounding record in his rookie season by averaging 13.1 rebounds per game, said he wants to make the most of his unique opportunity.
“I told them to coach me hard and push me to do what I need to do,” Reese said of his veteran teammates. “I'm really enjoying it. I know I'm going to get a lot out of it when I leave this.”
At Rose Club's first media appearance, Rees and Copper sat side by side, but when asked about their newfound friendship, the Sky star revealed that they first bonded over being from the East Coast. He said it was a wake-up call.
“Being able to see her greatness and see everything she's done and obviously she won a championship in Chicago…just seeing her put her head down and work hard. And it motivates me every day,” Reese said.
In addition to on-campus resources and veteran leadership, Reese cited exposure and pay as two additional factors that impressed him about Unrivaled. The game officially begins on January 17th and will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV thanks to a media partnership with TNT Sports.
“This is the exposure we deserve. Being able to be on TNT every night and watch our games is something we've deserved for a long time,” Reese said.
Reese said the most important thing from a financial perspective is that all the initial players have the capital, adding: “Five years from now, this thing is going to be bigger than ever. ” he said.
