Angel Reese – Is “Barbie Doll” the team’s “secret weapon” in the new 3×3 tournament?
Unrivaled basketball revealed that the Chicago Sky rookie is now the 10th WNBA player to join the league
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(713x139:715x141):format(webp)/Angel-Reese-poses-for-a-head-shot-during-2024-WNBA-media-day-052024-83b3f0fd03514946a6a8e492921de23a.jpg)
WNBA rookie Angel Reese continues to add things to her plate and expand her resume, as it was recently announced that she’s the latest WNBA star to join the burgeoning 3-on-3 basketball league.
In an official announcement posted to Instagram on Wednesday, July 24, the Unrivaled basketball league revealed that Reese, 22, has joined the league. “The Barbie is Unrivaled,” read the caption for Unrivaled and Reese’s joint post. “10/30.”
Reese is now the 10th WNBA player to join the new league, which was created by fellow players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, according to Sports Illustrated. The expanding roster currently includes WNBA players Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Rhyne Howard, Kahleah Cooper and Jackie Young — with 20 additional players expected to be added in the coming months.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/Angel-Reese-060324-f61bff407c574c058a648d1a6255ebd1.jpg)
Per Yahoo! Sports, the inaugural six-team season will start in January 2025.
According to SI, the Unrivaled league proudly states that it offers “highest average salary in professional women’s sports history,” with Yahoo! Sports reporting that the players are receiving at least $100,000 for the season.
“The principle of our league is that it’s the top talent, and women need to be paid accordingly,” Collier told Yahoo! Sports, explaining why the league is offering six-figure salaries. She added, “We need to be treated as professionals, and so that was a huge thing, is making sure that this is transformative, and something that’s new is we’re going to be paying players what they should be paid.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(524x0:526x2):format(webp)/AngelReese-2023-espy-awards-07122328-2713aeb835eb44008994b74418312556.jpg)
Wednesday’s announcement continues a busy week for Reese, who was seen sitting courtside with Jasmin Reed, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry as they all watched Team USA’s women’s basketball match at the O2 Arena in London on July 23.
Tuesday’s face off against Germany marked the team’s exhibition game before the Paris Summer Olympics officially begin on July 26, according to the New York Post.
Prior to that, Reese and her WNBA rookie counterpart, Caitlin Clark, recently played together for the WNBA All-Star Game – and claimed victory over Team USA with a score of 117 to 109.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/angel-reese-lsu-040323-2-e06e2e08321a4e39b81afcfa29661efd.jpg)
Reese and Clark, also 22, headlined the 12-player roster, which also included Nneka Ogwumike, DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, among others.
The WNBA All-Star Game marked the first time Reese and Clark played on the same team amid a rivalry that dates back to both being opponents in college when Reese played for Louisiana State University and Clark for the University of Iowa.
“I’m just so happy. I know the work I put in,” Reese said at the time, according to ESPN, which reported that the game drew record number of viewers, with over 3 million watching it on ABC. “I can’t thank my teammates and my coaches enough for just believing in me and trusting me… So I’m really happy right now.”
