After a bruising stretch of injuries, Angel Reese entered 2026 with a simple goal, be fully healthy again.“I recovered at the end of the season. … Just continuing to do recovery on my whole body and figuring it out,” Reese said at the Team USA Camp back in December 2025. “Going into Year 3, that was my focus this offseason, just being completely healthy.” Reese has not remained injury-free since taking the WNBA step up, and she has revealed her current status 

Her rookie WNBA season was cut short by a hairline fracture in her wrist. She reaggravated the injury during the inaugural season of Unrivaled in March and was sidelined for the final stretch of the 2025 WNBA season with a back injury. She also missed a few games because of a minor leg injury. However, as the 2026 WNBA season approaches, Angel Reese has provided a positive update on her fitness.

“Yeah, I feel great. I feel amazing,” Angel Reese said after Rose BC’s win over the Laces. “That’s why stretching is a little tiring. But it felt really good. I think the best shape you can get in is basketball shape, and being able to play with the best competition in the world, arguably. So I’m just happy to really be here and be able to compete at the highest level and just prepare for what’s next.”

Reese has played two games in her first competitive basketball season since the WNBA, and she has looked pretty good. In the first game back, she scored 3 points and eight rebounds in just 10 minutes of play against the Hive. Yet, they lost 78-80 with Kelsey Mitchell scoring the game-winning layup. In the second game, she once again came off the bench, scoring 9 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in the 70-66 win. However, it is her defensive work that has stood out so far.

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The scoreline read 66-64, and Rose and Reese switched to Jackie Young. Young tried to go to the rim, but Reese was in front of her the whole time. The Chicago Sky star blocked the first shot, but Young got it back on the rebound. Reese smacked it off Young, and it rolled to the three-point line with the shot clock winding down. 

Young tried a hail mary three pointer, but Reese blocked that one as a shot clock violation was called. It was a demonstration of her current fitness. But she is still playing limited minutes, so endurance is a question. And Unrivaled has a smaller court than the 5v5 WNBA. So this is not the exact platform to judge on. However, Reese has been named in the 12-member Team USA squad for the World Cup Qualifiers in March, which will be a better test. Meanwhile, she has also revealed the exact reason to return for Unrivaled.

Angel Reese Reveals Reason For Unrivaled Return

Initially, Angel Reese did not return for the second season of Unrivaled. After balling out in the first and winning the title, she went on a ‘world tour’. First it was the Bahamas, then to the UK for the NBA Europe game. Then she travelled down under for a major promotion of her signature shoes with Reebok. The brand signed a deal with WNBL, and Reese even hinted at a possible future in the league. Nevertheless, she is now back in Unrivaled. 

“From the first day Unrivaled started, they’ve been calling me to come back,” Reese said. Well, she is among the A-list WNBA superstars Unrivaled had. They haven’t acquired Caitlin Clark or A’ja Wilson yet. The league lost Napheesa Collier and DiJonai Carrington, among a couple of others, losing some star power. They did get Paige Bueckers, but having Reese back is a huge boost for their popularity. 

“Literally, I was in Australia, and they were like ‘You want to come back?’” Reese said. “I was like, ‘Alright.’ Literally, I was on the beach last week, and now I’m here.” So, Reese signed a deal for the final few games of the season. Rose BC had one vacant roster spot after Aari McDonald was ruled out with a right leg injury, and a three-team trade. Now, she has helped the team to the playoffs and will look to contribute towards another title.