Angel Reese turned heads while she observed Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
Cameras spotted the star forward sitting courtside as she watched Napheesa Collier’s Lynx win their fifth WNBA title while Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart fought to win the Liberty’s first. Though Reese‘s presence at the game was not unexpected, it was what she was wearing that caught fans off guard.
Wearing tall heels, the Chicago Sky star also was spotted wearing jean shorts and a top that featured a combination of both Collier’s Lynx jersey and Stewart’s Liberty jersey, sowed together. It appeared as if Reese’s choice was a way for her to show support for two of the biggest stars in the league, playing on the biggest stage.
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In a video, Reese sent a message to her fans with the jersey in full view, explaining why she decided to wear a jersey with both Collier and Stewart’s names on them. “Hey guys, I’m at the WNBA Finals,” the 22-year-old said in the video.
“I got Minnesota and New York because we’re so Unrivaled. But this is a great environment. Everybody lit in here!” Fans appreciated Reese’s dedication to support the two stars, with one stating: “I’m glad she can be at the game and enjoy herself. Cant wait to see how her Year 2 is after playing more in Unrivaled.”
Another wrote: “Giving Mamma Kelce vibes! Get it!!” However, some fans were confused with Reese’s decision, claiming that either Reese was making the WNBA Finals about her or that it is blasphemous for an opposing player to wear another team’s jersey, let alone two.
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier battled in Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals (
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
For Reese to wear jerseys of both Collier and Stewart’s jerseys makes sense, considering she is doing what she can to promote Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league featuring the biggest stars in the WNBA. Unrivaled was the duo’s way of helping the WNBA’s players supplement their income after the WNBA season.
Typically, the league’s players leave the United States to play in Europe in other leagues, as those leagues tend to pay players more compared to the WNBA. It was reported that players are expected to earn at least six figures, which is more than what typically would be paid during the season.
Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell explained what it means to have broadcast companies like TNT Sports investing in the league, despite it being very new. “We have an obligation to the players to build the most highly competitive product we can and the best business we can because they’re all owners in this business,” Bazzell said to Front Office Sports.
“Having the freedom to just go out to the open market freely and figure out who the best partner for us would be was everything for us.”
Reese is just one of 30 WNBA stars who are set to be featured in the league. Other players in include Chelsea Gray, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby and more.
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