Another weekend of Unrivaled is upon us. Rose BC had a pretty up-and-down start to the season, securing their first win last weekend, but falling short to Phantom BC on Friday. But on Saturday, they bounced back with a victory over the Laces, and rookie Angel Reese made history. But wait, not the kind she—or anyone—was expecting.
Although Rose BC came out on top with an 83-69 win, Reese became the first player to be ejected from a game in the league’s inaugural season. With her team leading by eight points just before halftime, Reese was called for a foul on Tiffany Hayes.
It was a call the Rose forward clearly didn’t agree with, and in that moment, she made a dismissive gesture toward Hayes. That’s when the first technical foul was called.
But things didn’t stop there. As everyone else lined up for free throws, the 22-year-old continued to argue, which led to her picking up a second technical foul in quick succession. And just like that, she was out of the game—gone before the second half even started.
The hooper finished with six points, 15 rebounds, and three assists, shooting 2-7 from the field, but her performance took a backseat to the chaos that unfolded.
After the ejection, she didn’t waste any time. She took to Twitter with a one-word message, “sayless.” And fans were quick to jump in and show their support. Looks like the Chi-Town Barbie isn’t the only one fired up about what went down.
Comment after comment has flooded social media, with many feeling like Reese was unfairly treated. One fan went as far as saying, “THEY CHEATED YOU!!!!!!!” This sentiment reflects a larger frustration with what fans are calling “unfair calls” that have been a recurring topic not just in Unrivaled, but across basketball this season.
And fans are convinced that Reese didn’t deserve to be ejected. Then, there’s the reaction to the referee’s behavior during the exchange. One fan asked, “Like what is the bullshit I am watching!!! Why is the Ref telling you to ‘Back the F*** Off’?!! Why is he that emotionally invested?!”
Many are upset over the way the referee responded to the Chicago Sky star, especially with his shouting at her while she argued the call. They feel the official was more emotionally involved in the situation than he should have been, as opposed to just doing his job without letting emotions get in the way.
Another fan pointed out the bigger issue, saying, “You get punished for trying to put on a show… they don’t deserve you.” Angel was in her prime and even getting the crowd hyped with her clapping gesture.
Fans loved her energy, and many believe that if she had stayed in the game, it could’ve been a standout performance. Her abrupt ejection left fans thinking that perhaps the league didn’t fully appreciate or deserve the kind of show Reese was giving.
Then, there are those urging her to leave the league altogether. One fan tweeted, “PLEASE LEAVE THAT LEAGUE FAWKKK TIP HATING OLD A-S,” suggesting that Reese should pack up and leave due to what they feel is a personal attack against her.
While it’s clear they’re upset, the reality is that Reese is unlikely to leave the league, especially given her contract and the high salary that ties her to Unrivaled for the long haul.
Lastly, some fans are calling for immediate action to fix the situation. One fan said, “The refs gotta agenda against ya Angel…. I hope @Unrivaledwbb get this sh-t right…. those few minutes you dominated the game.” Fans are asking the league to address the officiating issue, and quickly.
Let’s see if this kind of officiating continues to stir up more outrage or if Reese comes back next game with an even bigger performance.
