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Angel Reese was named Unrivaled’s Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday, March 15. Reese, who led the league in rebounds, was a defensive anchor for the Rose BC all season. The team finished second in the league and will go head-to-head against the Laces on Sunday in the semi-finals.
Reese received the most combined weight votes from Unrivaled players and coaches, as well as by a nation-wide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Chelsea Gray had high praise for Angel Reese
Reese’s teammate Chelsea Gray, aka the Point Gawd, had plenty of praise for the 22-year-old. “Double-double machine. She’s somebody who has a knack for rebounding and just goes after it,” Gray told ESPN. “It’s really hard to do that consistently. It’s a lot on your body. It’s a mindset that you have to have, and it’s one she’s had this whole time.”
Reese’s performance at Unrivaled has been thrilling to watch, and there are high hopes she will be able to translate her skills back to the WNBA when the season kicks off in May. She averaged 13.1 points per game this season, 12.1 rebounds, and had the first 20-20 game in the league’s history when she racked up 22 points and 21 rebounds against the Lunar Owls BC on February 21.
Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride take other Unrivaled honors
Many fans thought that Lynx star Napheesa Collier was a lock for Defensive Player of the Year, which makes Reese’s achievement all the more impressive. Collier wasn’t left out in the dark, though — she was named First Team All-Unrivaled alongside Gray and Kayla McBride. Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Skylar Diggins-Smith were named Second Team All-Unrivaled.
Collier, who has averaged 25.7 points, 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in Unrivaled, is a fan favorite for Unrivaled MVP, which is likely to be announced at the conclusion of the season. McBride earned 22.2 points per game for the Laces, and Gray racked up 21.3 points per game.
Unrivaled’s first season ends on Monday
Votes were tallied from players, coaches, and 19 media members. The players’ vote was weighted 40%, the coaches were weighted 35%, and the media’s vote was weighted 25%.
The league is entering into semifinals on Sunday, when the Rose will play the Laces at 7:30 pm EST. The Lunar Owls and the Vinyl will play in the second game, and the winners of each game will go head-to-head in Monday’s first-ever championship game.
