rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
Unrivaled did bring a lot for Angel Reese—a lot of attention, an improved game, a mentor in Lisa Leslie, and, well, some unexpected friendships. And now, those friendships are bringing up some interesting stories from the past for us fans. Another one just dropped in the latest episode of Unapologetically Angel, and let’s just say it had a bit of a confession from Lexie Hull—one that also included Cameron Brink and DiJonai Carrington.
A few months ago, who would’ve thought that Reese and Carrington—who seemed like on-court rivals—would be experimenting with makeup together? Or that, Caitlin Clark’s teammate, Hull would be chatting about her Stanford days with Reese, going from teammates to full-on friends? But here we are.
And when Reese recently sat down with Carrington on her podcast, the conversation took an interesting turn. The Sky forward got straight to it, asking Carrington about her college experience. And in a way that only Angel Reese can, she had some thoughts about Stanford’s vibe.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“How was your college experience, though?” she asked. “Like, Stanford—that seems like you just go to school, you go home, and you go to basketball practice, then you go home.”
via Imago
Jan 17, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Angel Reese (5) of the Rose takes a shot against the Vinyl in the first half of the Unrivaled women’s professional 3v3 basketball league at Wayfair Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Carrington laughed. “You think we’re nerds?”
That’s when Reese dropped that Lexie had already told her what Stanford life was really about. “Lexi told me, like, you basically go there and find your sweetheart,” Reese said. “Cam found hers, Lex found hers…” The Wings star, though? “I didn’t find mine,” she admitted.
But she did find love later. After four years at Stanford, Carrington transferred to Baylor for her final year, where she met WNBA star NaLyssa Smith. The two have been dating since their Baylor days. Meanwhile, Hull and Brink spent their whole collegiate careers at Stanford.
Hull, who graduated in 2022, met Will Matthiessen—a former player who now works as an analyst. As for Brink, she’s been with Ben Felter since 2021, and the couple just got engaged in September. Felter, also a Stanford alum, was a starboard on the Stanford Rowing Team.
But Stanford wasn’t just about finding love for these athletes. It was the foundation of their successful careers in the WNBA. Brink went pro with an NCAA championship, a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award, and more accolades under her belt. Hull was at her peak in her senior year and it was the time when she received the maximum number of accolades
Carrington helped Stanford win two Pac-12 tournament titles before making her own name in the W. And now, all three—Hull, Carrington, and Brink—are part of Unrivaled. Brink isn’t on the court just yet as she recovers from an ACL injury, but she’s still there, supporting her squad from the sidelines.
Carrington is with Breanna Stewart’s Mist, while Hull and Reese are out there hooping for Rose Club. And what we’ve seen from Angel Reese so far? Yes, we didn’t see that coming.
Unrivaled unexpected standouts: Angel Reese and more stepping up
The Unrivaled league has been the perfect offseason grind for WNBA players looking to elevate their game, and some are making big statements. The Chi-Town Barbie did break the WNBA’s all-time single-season double-double record in her debut year and established herself as the league’s top rebounder.
But at Unrivaled, Reese took another leap. She’s averaging 13.3 points and 12.1 rebounds, which has shocked everyone by becoming just the second team to clinch a playoff berth. Her rebounding numbers lead the league, and her finishing around the rim has visibly improved.
Then, we have Brittney Griner. Many wondered how Brittney Griner’s game would translate to a full-court 3-on-3 format. Turns out, pretty well. Despite her team (Phantom) struggling, Griner is averaging 16.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
And she’s added a three-point shot to her game, which could be a huge weapon for the Atlanta Dream next season. More importantly, at 34, she’s been one of the most durable players in the league.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad

USA Today via Reuters
May 21, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Sky in the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
And last but not the least, Aaliyah Edwards. Fresh off her rookie season with the Washington Mystics, Edwards entered Unrivaled a bit under the radar. Not anymore. She’s averaging 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and has shot over 50% from the field in nearly every game.
But her biggest moment was Unrivaled’s 1v1 tournament. Edwards finished as the runner-up in a three-game series against Napheesa Collier, taking down some of the league’s best on the way there—Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Now, with Unrivaled’s inaugural season winding down soon, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll take home the first-ever championship. But the competition is only getting tougher. Let’s see who creates the history!