he basketball star will miss the second anniversary of the event

Angel Reese

 

When Unrivaled made official its roster for the second season of the tournament, one big name was missing causing an immediate reaction. Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky super-star and one of the faces of women’s basketball’s new era, was absent.

Reese, who helped lead Rose BC to the inaugural Unrivaled championship and was named Defensive Player of the Year in the first celebration, will not be present in Season 2.

This news left fans wondering why one of the league’s most visible and watched athletes would skip something as big and expected as this competition. The thing is, the marvelous player is currently dealing with a back injury, one that will take her out from the court for most of the 2025 season.

A season to heal

According to ‘The Sporting News’ and ‘Chicago Sun-Times’, Angel Reese’s decision stems from the lingering back issues that surrounded her toward the end of her first WNBA season. After a grueling summer with the Chicago Sky, the 22-year-old forward is reportedly taking time off to recover rather than jumping immediately into another competition. Something that could possibly delay her return if her injury relapses. Rest is now her priority.

Her closed environment has not issued a formal statement, but reports suggest she is focusing on physical recovery and conditioning before returning to competitive play.

She’s protecting her long-term health – and that’s something you can’t fault

A big miss for Unrivaled

For Unrivaled, Reese’s absence certainly means a lot. The 3×3 women’s basketball league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier drew incredible attention last year, in part, because of Reese’s presence.

She is more than just a player and everybody knows it. She has become a marketing animal, a fan favorite, and a key figure in helping Unrivaled and the WNBA break through as a must see platform for women’s basketball stars.

Without her, Unrivaled’s second year will have a different rhythm and surely a noticeable gap in star power and income. She will come back stronger