Angel Reese is done sitting out. The Chicago Sky star missed the first part of the 2026 season of Unrivaled, but she signed a new deal and is back with Rose BC, the team she helped win the first-ever championship last year. The move ends weeks of speculation that began when Rose BC quietly left a spot on their roster online with the words “coming soon.” This was a hint that turned out to be true. Reese’s return adds a big name to a league that already built its first season around her strong presence.

Jordan Skyy, a reporter, confirmed the news that Unrivaled fans had been waiting for. “2025 Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese has agreed to a new deal with the league for the remainder of the 2026 season. Reese will make her return to Rose BC on February 20 for the club’s matchup against Hive BC,” Skyy posted. The announcement makes official what Rose BC’s roster moves had been hinting at for weeks.

Reese’s return is important because of what she did in the first season of Unrivaled. She led Rose BC to the league title, won Defensive Player of the Year, and made history by scoring 20 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in a single game against the Lunar Owls. This was the first time in league history that this had happened. Her strong performance on both sides of the ball set the bar for what Unrivaled could do, so it was clear that she was missed in the first few weeks of the 2026 season.

Rose’s first show on February 20 comes right after Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament ends. It will be on TNT, truTV, and Max at 8:45 p.m. ET. Reese joins Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper again, as well as new players Shakira Austin, Sug Sutton, and Haley Jones. This makes Rose BC’s roster deeper and more versatile than it was last season.

The timing of her return makes for an interesting story. Reese missed the championship game last year because of a wrist injury, even though she had driven Rose BC to the title all season. This time, she’s joining a team that’s already doing well. Gray is averaging 25.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, while Copper and Austin are adding 19.3 and 16.5 points, respectively. Reese’s rebounding and defense give Rose BC an extra edge that they didn’t have at the end of their title run.

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Angel Reese enters a loaded Unrivaled race with Rose BC chasing the Laces

Reese’s title defense won’t be easy. The Laces are in first place with an 8-2 record, followed by Phantom (8-3) and Mist (7-4). Rose BC has a lot of ground to make up before the playoffs start on February 27.

The Laces are ready to win right now. Brittney Sykes leads the team with 18.9 points per game, Jackie Young adds 16.4 points and 3.9 assists, and Alyssa Thomas anchors the boards with 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Phantom has Kelsey Plum’s 22.4 points and 5.5 assists, as well as Aliyah Boston’s jaw-dropping 19.9 points and 19.1 rebounds per game.

Mist has its own weapons. Allisha Gray scores 20 points and gets three assists every night. Breanna Stewart scores 19.7 points and grabs 9.4 rebounds. Arike Ogunbowale adds 14.5 points to make this one of the league’s most dangerous teams. The biggest question that Reese’s first game answers is whether she can change the script for Rose BC against this competition.

When the league ends, Reese turns her attention to the Chicago Sky after Unrivaled. The WNBA season starts on May 9 against the Portland Fire, which is a new team. However, if the league and players’ union keep talking about the CBA, that schedule could change if talks go on into the spring.