February 2nd 2025.
After just over a week since its launch, Unrivaled has made history with its first ever ejection. During the Feb. 1 game between the Rose Basketball Club and the Laces, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky received two successive technical fouls and was subsequently ejected from the game. It was an intense moment that caught the attention of fans and media alike.
According to reports from The Athletic, Reese was called for a defensive foul while guarding Tiffany Hayes, resulting in Hayes falling to the floor as she drove towards the basket. In response, Reese waved her hand, which appeared to be directed towards the official, but was most likely intended for Hayes. This action led to the official calling a technical foul on Reese, who then proceeded to argue with the referee.
In most leagues, arguing with a referee is a sure way to earn a technical foul, and that's exactly what happened to Reese, resulting in her ejection from the game. After the game, Reese took to social media to have some fun with her history-making ejection, sharing a video of herself standing in a mock penalty box with the caption "free me." She also poked fun at herself, recognizing that she was the first player to be ejected from an Unrivaled game.
The on-court incident not only sparked conversation about the officiating but also highlighted the friendly rivalry between Reese and Hayes. Fans were also quick to point out that officiating has been a common issue during the WNBA Finals series between the two founders of Unrivaled, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
Despite only playing for seven minutes, Reese managed to grab 15 rebounds, score six points, and tally three assists, earning her the title of the leading rebounder of the night along with Los Angeles Sparks' Dearica Hamby. Without Reese on the court, Chelsea "Point Gawd" Gray stepped up and led the Rose BC to an 83-69 victory over the Laces, earning herself the player of the game honors.
Unrivaled has been a huge success so far, with both players and TNT Sports thrilled with the results. The opening weekend drew in record-breaking viewership, with the Lunar Owls vs. The Mist and The Vinyl vs. The Rose games becoming the two most-watched women's basketball games in TNT Sports history. The press release also stated that Unrivaled content across Bleacher Report platforms garnered 25 million views during the opening week. It's clear that Unrivaled is taking the women's basketball world by storm.
In addition to the success of Unrivaled, McDonald's recently debuted its first-ever female athlete meal, "The Angel Reese Special," further showcasing the impact and recognition that women's basketball is gaining. As Unrivaled continues to make history and push the boundaries of women's basketball, it's clear that the future of the sport is bright and full of potential.
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