Angel Reese Addresses Being First Ejected Basketball Player In Unrivaled With Bold Post

Angel Reese made history again by becoming the first player to be ejected from a new 3x3 basketball league, Unrivaled, which features several WNBA stars.

After a tense quarter and a half between the Rose (Reese's team) and the Laces, Reese was called for a personal foul against Tiffany Hayes. She later made a gesture toward the player as she walked away following the whistle, leading to a couple of technical fouls, causing her to be ejected.

In a bold post to her social media account, Angel Reese addressed the ejection, which has caused a stir among netizens.

For basketball fans who may be unfamiliar with the new 3x3 league, Unrivaled was founded by WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.

The games are played in Miami, Florida, across eight weeks, and the teams are stacked with several notable players, including Chelsea Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, and Dijonai Carrington.

During Reese's February 1 game against the Laces, the 22-year-old was called for a personal foul after coming into contact with Hayes, who fell to the ground.

After the call, Reese waved her hand toward Hayes, who currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, triggering a couple of technical fouls.

In a clip of the tense moment, Reese appeared to explain to the referee that the hand gesture wasn't toward them. However, the Chicago Sky power forward was still tossed from the game, making her the first player in the league's history to receive this penalty.

Reese finished the game with six points, 15 rebounds, and three assists in seven minutes of play.

Reese wasted no time addressing the ejection on her social media accounts. Moments after the game, the WNBA sensation posted several controversial opinions about the move.

After one user posted a video of Reese on the sideline talking to someone out of frame, the athlete quoted it and said, "Free me."

Later, she made another bold statement, writing, "Happy [Black History Month.] Y'all know I had to be the first."

In a third post, she replied to a published article about her ejection, calling it "clickbait."

"Everything I do [keeps] going viral," she added.

After Reese was booted from the hardwood, several Unrivaled watchers shared their thoughts about the move on social media.

Reese's Chicago teammate, Michaela Onyenwere, said the refs were "out of their mind" to toss the Bayou Barbie from the game, prompting Reese to tell her followers she was ready to get back to the WNBA.

Other watchers also chimed in to call out Unrivaled's referees for a questionable whistle against Reese.

"Angel with the first ejection in Unrivaled history, all [because] Rose was putting belt to [butt], and they had to stop it," someone wrote.

A second user seemingly agreed, saying Reese was thrown from the game "for playing good defense."

"Angel Reese getting ejected on the first day of Black History Month is nasty work refs," a third commented.

Reese's ejection from an Unrivaled game comes days after the basketball player caused a stir on social media after doing something special for her mother.

During an episode of her podcast, "Unapologetically Angel," Reese surprised her mother by paying off her mortgage for her birthday. She also gave her mother the option to retire or continue working if she wanted to.

“You can pick if you want to work still, [but] your mortgage today has been paid," Reese said.

Of course, there was some negative pushback, as many questioned how the WNBA rookie could afford to make such a move.

However, several others praised her, saying that many kids "dream to give back everything their parents poured into them."

The first month of 2025 was a historic one for Reese. On January 30, she announced her special meal deal with McDonald's, which will become available for purchase in February 2025.

The "Angel Reese Special," which includes a burger smothered with barbecue sauce, topped with bacon, and a Hi-C drink, is the fast-food chain's first collaboration with a professional female athlete.

According to a press release, the meal is the perfect blend of "sweet" and "savory," which is supposed to represent Reese's personality on and off of the court.

"It’s really a dream come true to be the first-ever female athlete to have my own meal and be a part of McDonald’s amazing basketball legacy. I hope the Angel Reese Special inspires young athletes everywhere to never give up on pursuing their dreams," Reese said.