Unrivaled, Up Next: Angel Reese technical fouls spark criticism of officiating

There was a thick cloud of emotion around games over the weekend as the WNBA’s active free agency period saw players traded, waived, and moved in unprecedented amounts. Plus, the league saw its first ejection as Angel Reese booted from Saturday’s Rose BC game.

Behind the Angel Reese ejection

Subject of a lot of unfair scrutiny and pressure Angel Reese is, at the core, one of the most exciting prospects in women’s basketball. A national championship at LSU, a first-round draft pick, and an award-winning rookie season are only the start of Reese’s accolades. She’s become a mogul in the world of sports business, recently announcing a partnership with McDonald’s along with her existing partnership with Reebok as well as her podcast.

So, when she was announced as a founding Unrivaled member, it made sense. A chance to help grow the game as well as they opportunity to train and play with her peers before her second WNBA season was the perfect combination for Reese. Fans have been watching her thrive under the tutelage of WNBA-great Chelsea Gray as a point guard, and a development minded coach like Nola Henry will be great for Reese’s progression.

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Lessons come in various ways on the court, and it seemed like Saturday’s Rose BC game versus Laces BC was another lesson for Reese. In the first half, Reese was handed a double technical foul and subsequent ejection from the game — the league’s first in-game ejection. Rose went on to win 83-69 over Laces, but personnel dwindled near the end of the game as both Tiffany Hayes and Jackie Young left the game with injuries and other players on both sides were in foul trouble.

After the game, Rose BC head coach Nola Henry was asked about the ejection, which “happened pretty quickly,” according to Henry. “Players are super competitive, and at times that makes them a little bit emotional. I understood her frustration completely,” Henry continued.

Reese had 15 rebounds already by the time she was ejected prior to halftime, but was unable to play in the second half. Based on Henry’s comments after the game, neither she or any of Reese’s teammates blamed her for the events that went down.

“When Angel went out, we all banded together,” said Rose BC player Azura Stevens, “that’s what it takes to win, it’s not always going to be pretty.”

Henry said she used the opportunity to have a conversation with Reese, understanding that she’s young and these things well happen. “I wanted clarity [from the refs] around what she said, so I could have a conversation with her about it,” Henry said. When asked a follow up question on what the official told her, Henry responded “They didn’t go into detail about that, not sure what it was that made them frustrated. I think there was a bit of confusion about the whole interaction.”

During Monday night’s games there was another ejection, as Phantom BC coach Adam Harrington was tossed from the game near the end of the fourth quarter. Mist BC ended up winning the game on technical foul free throws. In the Lunar Owls game against Vinyl, the last of the weekend, Arike Ogunbowale was also assessed a technical foul.

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Napheesa Collier is in a league of her own

Napheesa Collier owns the league, but she also owns the league.

She continues to play at an elite level, scoring 26 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal in the Lunar Owls game against Laces BC on Friday night. Her Lunar Owls are leading the league in points, field goal %, and 3-point%. Collier herself leads the league in points, rebounds, blocks and field goals made, per the league.

The Owls head coach DJ Sackmann, known for being a player development specialist, said: “We’re watching their film from the W, trying to get an understanding of how each [player] succeeds, then trying to put them in those situations. They’re so good, it just happens naturally.”

In Monday’s game against Vinyl BC, the Lunar Owls won their sixth consecutive game, continuing their undefeated streak as Unrivaled’s top team. It was a statement win as well, as they finished 85-68. In this game, Collier scored 36 points on 13-18 shooting from the field. She had 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

“It’s easy to play with [Napheesa], it’s a joy,” her teammate Allisha Gray said after the win.

Sackmann also had words of praise for Collier after Monday’s game. “She’s very unique in her way of facilitating the play without even having the basketball,” he said. “It’s making the game a lot easier for us.”

It’s clear Collier is taking advantage of this time in Miami to prepare for what is likely to be another successful WNBA season.

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League Standings

Lunar Owls (6-0)

Laces (4-2)

Mist (2-4)

Phantom (2-4)

Rose (2-4)

Vinyl (2-4)

Next Week’s Slate

Friday February 7

Lunar Owls vs Phantom – 7:15 p.m. ET

Rose vs Mist – 8:15 p.m. ET

Saturday February 8

Laces vs Vinyl – 6 p.m. ET

Mist vs Lunar Owls – 7 p.m. ET

Monday February 10

1-on-1 Tournament Round 1: Details to come