For a defending champion trying to steady itself, this should have been a simple win. Instead, Angel Reese returning to Unrivaled midseason has done something else entirely. It has split the conversation. The news broke on Wednesday when Legion Hoops reported that Reese would return to Unrivaled after missing the opening month of the 2026 season. Official confirmation followed quickly. The reigning 2025 Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year signed a new deal to play out the remainder of the season.

Her debut is scheduled for February 20 against Hive BC. It will be Reese’s first appearance since the league’s 1-on-1 tournament. For Rose BC, the timing matters. The defending champions have lost three of their last five games and sit fifth in the standings. What began as a title defense built on stability has started to wobble.

Rose BC entered the season favored to repeat, in large part because of Chelsea Gray anchoring the offense. Still, the absence of Reese quietly reshaped the team’s identity. Last season, Reese was the league’s top rebounder, averaging 13.3 points and roughly 12 rebounds per game. Rose was one of Unrivaled’s strongest rebounding teams during its championship run.

This season, without her, that edge disappeared. Rose’s rebounding numbers slipped into the middle of the pack, exposing a weakness that did not exist a year ago. Because of that,  Reese’s return is not cosmetic. It directly addresses the most obvious hole in Rose BC’s title defense.

News served to you like never before!

Prefer us on Google, To get latest news on feed

Prefer Us on Google

Social media erupts with divided opinions on Angel Reese’s return

People are talking a lot about Reese’s return to Unrivaled, but there are a lot of different reactions on social media. Some fans see her star power and impact, while others are still unsure about her performance and whether she is relevant to the league.

“Unrivaled needed that star power boost,” said one fan, acknowledging that the league had trouble getting viewers early in the 2026 season. Television ratings showed a decline compared to the first season of the previous year, which raised doubts about Unrivalled’s ability to sustain itself. Reese’s magnetic personality and extensive social media following, which she developed through her college achievements and WNBA success, would help the league attract the necessary publicity to establish itself as a professional basketball organization.

Someone else said, “Angel Reese back in Unrivaled?”The league’s ratings just doubled, and its technical foul count tripled.” This comment talks about Reese’s fiery competitive nature, which sometimes leads to fights on the court. She was suspended for half a game in the WNBA for” comments detrimental to the team,” which shows how passionate she was about the game.

“Don’t know if anyone cares,” read another response, showing doubt about Unrivaled’s overall appeal, even though more and more people are coming. The league’s trip to Philadelphia set attendance records for women’s basketball, but some critics wonder if casual fans keep up with the 3-on-3 format.

“Angel Reese returning to Unrivaled? That’s huge, she’s a star and always brings energy to the show,” was another reaction that showed how excited many fans are about her return. Reese’s influence goes beyond numbers. She helped Rose BC win the first Unrivaled championship, but she couldn’t play in the title game because of a wrist injury. She is one of the most interesting players in the league because she is a great rebounder, a fierce defender, and has star power.

These different reactions show that Reese has had a big effect on women’s basketball, even though she is polarizing. Fans may be happy about her return or wonder how relevant she is, but her presence gets people talking and watching, which is exactly what Unrivaled needs to build its brand and Rose BC needs to defend its title.