Angel Reese is taking her talents to a new basketball league.
The Chicago Sky rookie will be joining Unrivaled — a 3×3 professional women’s basketball league, co-founded by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and reigning WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart of the Liberty — in its inaugural season, which kicks off in Miami in January 2025.
The league tweeted the news of their latest addition, writing “THE BARBIE IS UNRIVALED (crown emoji) 10/30 (check mark emoji) TAG WHO’S NEXT (eyes emoji).”
Reese, in response, wrote, “305 BARBIEEEE (crown emoji) SEE YALL IN THE YAMSSSSSSS (yawning emoji).”
305 BARBIEEEEE👑 SEE YALL IN THE YAMSSSSSSS🤭 https://t.co/tFmlwdlsZN
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 24, 2024
Unrivaled, which provides WNBA players the opportunity to continue playing in the US with a salary during the offseason, is set to feature 30 athletes across six different teams
So far, 10 women — Reese, Stewart, Collier, Kelsey Plum, Rhyne Howard, Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, Jackie Young and Kahleah Copper — have confirmed their involvement, with 20 spots remaining.
The WNBA has experienced a significant surge in viewership, especially with the arrivals of former NCAA standouts Reese and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, who blew fans away throughout their collegiate careers and have continued to do so in pros.
The WNBA All-Star game, which took place this past weekend in Phoenix, drew a record number of viewers with 3.44 million people watching the U.S. Olympic team face the squad of All-Stars, which featured Clark and Reese — the first two rookies to receive All-Star honors since 2014.
The match, which saw Team WNBA defeat Team USA 117-109, easily surpassed the 1.44 million viewers from the 2003 contest.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark teaming up as WNBA All-Stars in Phoenix on Saturday, July 20, 2024.Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
As the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark’s $76,535 annual salary as a rookie sensation, has sparked heated debate about the gender pay gap in sports, particularly basketball.
“For years, women have relied heavily on off-court sponsorships for a majority of their income,” Stewart said. “With Unrivaled, we’re revolutionizing the game by prioritizing investments in our stars and ensuring their on-court performance is reflected in their pay.”
The league will offer the highest average salary for a women’s professional sports league with six-figure deals, with all 30 players receiving equity.
WNBA rookies Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Cameron Brink at 2024 WNBA Draft.AP
Unrivaled has welcomed immense support.
Through her firm Trybe Ventures, U.S. women’s soccer star Alex Morgan assembled a powerful team of investors, including several legendary athletes and executives, to help fund the launch of the league.
Among the investors are former USWNT stalwart Megan Rapinoe; Basketball Hall of Famer Steve Nash; golfer Michelle Wie West; Knicks great Carmelo Anthony; and UConn coach Geno Auriemma.
Ex-ESPN president John Skipper and ex-Turner president David Levy are both on board to help with landing a media rights deal.
Breanna Stewart, forward on the New York Liberty and USA Women’s National Team, during a WNBA All-Star Game team practice in Phoenix, Arizona.Getty Images
Stewart, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the No.1 pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, has been a major voice in advocating for female basketball players’ rights.
The forward has been at the center of the league’s push for charter flights, which were finally approved in 2023.
Stewart put up 15 points, six rebounds and five assists Tuesday night in Team USA’ tune-up win against Germany at O2 Arena in London.
