- Unrivaled League. Caitlin Clark celebrates Angel Reese's defeat when her best friend shows she's better than she is
- Unrivaled League. Chennedy Carter ignores Angel Reese on Unrivaled and focuses her praise on another newbie
The Rose Basketball Club is off to a shaky start in the inaugural Unrivaled League, with their record falling to 1-3 after a tough 71-64 loss against the Laces Basketball Club.
Despite Angel Reese's standout individual performance, fans have begun speculating about the team's lack of cohesion, specifically pointing to Chelsea Gray's playstyle as a potential issue.
Angel Reese delivered an efficient performance despite limited chances, scoring 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and converting 5-of-6 free throws. She also contributed seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
However, fans were quick to notice that Reese's offensive contributions were minimized due to a lack of touches, sparking debate about Chelsea Gray's approach to distributing the ball.
Gray, known for her clutch playmaking with the Las Vegas Aces, had a poor shooting night, going 3-for-14 and finishing with just nine points. Fans took to social media to express their frustration, accusing Gray of overlooking Reese and opting for contested shots.
One commenter wrote: "The Rose's wing players must really hate Angel Reese. Copper just indiscriminately jacks shots. Gray completely looks her off and fires up contested fallaway 17-footers. This team has no chemistry and terrible coaching. They should be a lot better."
Other fans echoed the sentiment, with one humorously remarking: "I need Chelsea Gray to realize this is Unrivaled, not the Harlem Globetrotters. Just make a normal please."
The frustration extended to memes and video clips, with fans playfully illustrating their discontent over Gray's decision-making on the court.
Chemistry concerns and a path forward for Rose
Reese's ability to shine was further hindered by foul trouble, as she eventually fouled out after committing her sixth foul. Through four games, Reese has averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, demonstrating her potential as a dominant player if better utilized.
Critics believe that the Rose Basketball Club's chemistry issues and coaching strategies are major factors in their slow start. As one fan bluntly stated: "This team has no chemistry and terrible coaching. They should be a lot better."
The Rose Basketball Club will have an opportunity to regroup when they face the Phantom Basketball Club on Friday at Wayfair Arena in Medley, Florida.
With the spotlight firmly on Reese and Gray, fans will be watching closely to see if the team can iron out their on-court issues and capitalize on Reese's abilities.
As the Unrivaled season progresses, the Rose Basketball Club faces an uphill battle to improve their record and build team chemistry.
Whether Reese and Gray can find a way to work together effectively could define the team's season-and perhaps silence the growing whispers about internal tensions.