Angel Reese & Co. Humiliating 6x All-Star Drives Basketball Fans Demanding an Unrivaled Feature That Even WNBA Lacks
via Imago
Angel Reese doesn’t forget. Nine months ago, she hit the floor after taking a hard clothesline to the neck from a six-time WNBA all star in a heated battle for a rebound. The moment ended in a flagrant foul 2, an ejection, and a wave of reactions. When asked about it later, Reese shrugged it off, saying, “I know she purposely probably didn’t do it towards me.”
Fast forward to Unrivaled, and it was clear that tensions hadn’t cooled. This time, there were no referees, no whistles—just raw competition. Reese and Alyssa Thomas went head-to-head once again, with Dijonai Carrington summing up the intensity in a post on X: “They shoulda mic’d up AT & Angel tonight.”
This wasn’t about numbers, but Thomas still delivered: 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals. Yet, Reese and her squad made their presence felt, applying relentless pressure to secure a 58-53 win. Adding to the entertainment, though, would be hearing players’ thoughts as they execute game plans.
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Which player was involved in a heated battle with Angel Reese that resulted in a flagrant foul 2 and an ejection?
Candace Parker
Sue Bird
Alyssa Thomas
Dijonai Carrington
Unrivaled has brilliantly tapped into it with its mic’d up moments. We have heard Napheesa Collier’s execution plans and Jackie Young’s thoughts during practice. Phil Handy too impressed with his calmer coaching side and who could forget Reese’s “Sabrina can’t f—— guard,” when Nola Henry was mic’d up.
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Given the two players’ history with each other and their intensity, it was only right Carrington brought up the suggestion. It was as if the fans were waiting for the conversation to pop up.
Fans react to Alyssa Thomas and Angel Reese’s paint battle: Physicality, trash talk, and a rivalry that keeps heating up
Given their history, it’s easy to see why. When Angel Reese and Alyssa Thomas met on the court again, it wasn’t just about the score—it was about pride, dominance, and, if fans had their way, some unfiltered, mic’d-up chaos.
Reese and Thomas are both relentless rebounders, meeting in the paint like two heavyweight fighters refusing to budge. In their latest matchup, Reese grabbed 17 boards to Thomas’ 16, a battle that left no room for pleasantries. It wouldn’t be shocking if a few words were exchanged. One fan put it bluntly: “Bby there would be nothing holy coming out of their mouths I fear.”
The tension wasn’t new. Nine months ago, Thomas delivered a clothesline to Reese in a WNBA game, earning a flagrant foul 2 and an ejection—the first of her career. Reese, despite taking the hit, responded with a measured yet defiant stance. “I want them to come at everybody,” she said. “I mean, they’re not supposed to be nice to me. I hope y’all know that. They’re not supposed to be nice to me or lay down because I’m Angel Reese or because I’m a rookie.”
So, when the two locked horns again in Unrivaled, fans expected fireworks. “The whole broadcast would have been a continuous stream of beeps lol,” one fan noted.
It’s not just that Thomas plays physically—it’s that she embraces it. “People saying I play bully ball is funny,” she said according to an article on Yahoo Sports last September. “I think just because you’re physical, everyone thinks you’re a bully. But there is strategy to what I do… A lot of what I do when I hit people is to create numbers for my teammates.”
That physicality has made Thomas one of the toughest players in the league, but it has also sparked controversy. Fans haven’t forgotten her past clashes, including an infamous play where she appeared to target Candace Parker’s knee in the playoffs. “I’ll never be surprised by an Alyssa Thomas dirty play,” one fan remarked at the time. “No fr. And don’t edit stuff out.”
Reese, however, doesn’t shy away from a challenge. She thrives in these moments, the same way she did when she went viral for telling Sabrina Ionescu, “She can’t guard me.” One fan wondered if this battle was even more entertaining: “Nai you gotta let them know,” they wrote in a nod to Carrington’s suggestion while a couple more followed with “facts lol,” and “We need that!!!!”
Trash talk, hard fouls, and personal rivalries are part of what makes basketball compelling. While the WNBA keeps things structured, Unrivaled provides fans with a raw, unfiltered version of the game. No league-imposed decorum, no media training—just pure, uncut competition.
