Angel Reese continues to ramp up pressure on Unrivaled with demand to remove Kate Martin from the league.
WNBA star Angel Reese is intensifying her stance against Unrivaled Basketball, pushing for the removal of former Iowa standout Kate Martin from the league. Reese has accused Martin of playing dirty and has made it clear that she’s unwilling to share the court with her.
“It’s either me or her,” Reese reportedly stated. “If she stays, I’ll bounce.”
The tension between Reese and Martin stems from their collegiate rivalry, which saw intense matchups when Reese played for LSU and Martin for Iowa. While physicality is expected in high-stakes games, Reese has been vocal about her belief that Martin crosses the line.
Unrivaled, a newly formed women’s basketball league aiming to provide top-tier competition outside the WNBA, now finds itself at the center of controversy. The league, co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, has been focused on attracting elite talent, and losing a player of Reese’s caliber would be a significant blow.
Fans and analysts are split on the situation. Some believe Reese is justified in her demands, arguing that a league promoting fair play shouldn’t tolerate dirty tactics. Others feel that personal rivalries shouldn’t dictate league decisions and that Reese should focus on competing rather than making ultimatums.
Unrivaled has yet to make an official statement regarding Reese’s demands. However, with the growing buzz surrounding the situation, a decision may need to be made soon—one that could impact the league’s credibility and player dynamics moving forward.
Will Unrivaled side with Reese, or will they stand firm in keeping Martin on the roster? One thing is certain: this drama is far from over.
‘That was for Caitlin’ – Iowa star Kate Martin slapping Angel Reese’s layup is going viral
Kate Martin seemed to be out for revenge when her Laces BC team took on Angel Reese’s Rose BC team in the star-studded Unrivalled Basketball League. During their matchup on Sunday, all eyes were on the matchup between Martin and Reese as the former college basketball and now WNBA rivals faced off.
The game was a tight encounter, with Martin’s Laces pulling off a 71-64 victory. However, the highlight of the game came when Angel Reese attempted to take on Kate Martin at the rim in a breakaway drive towards the rim. As the two clashed, Martin promptly blocked the shot, slapping the ball out of Reese’s hands, although the body contact earned her a foul and sent Reese to the free throw line.
The play may seem like a regulation sequence from a distance, but there is a bit of history involved in the rivalry between the two. Martin was the college teammate of Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark, and the two of them led Iowa in their heated rivalry against Angel Reese’s LSU.
At the end of the night on Sunday, Kate Martin ended the game with 7 points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field. Reese, meanwhile, had her best game of the league so far, recording 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, although she was unable to finish the game after fouling out on a defensive play against Martin.
The performance was crucial for Angel Reese, who has been under fire after an embarrassing lowlight highlighted her scoring troubles in a recent match.
Caitlin Clark fans praise Kate Martin for tackling Angel Reese rivalry on the court
While the focus of the game on Sunday was the matchup between Kate Martin and Angel Reese, Martin’s tough play against Reese had many fans praising her for standing up for her former teammate. As the clips of Martin’s attempted block on Reese went viral, many claimed that her play had a different intent behind it, with her close friend Caitlin Clark’s rivalry with Reese in mind.
I felt like there was just a touch of payback in that.
— just_amy_that_is_all (@amycas) January 28, 2025
Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark have been close friends on and off the court. While Clark was seen as the consensus number 1 overall pick in last year’s WNBA Draft, Martin had joined in to see her friend be drafted. To her surprise, however, Martin would also end up being drafted by the Las Vegas Aces, where she would develop into a rookie star behind the former champions.
Although Martin has now moved on to the brand new Golden State Valkyries for her future, as the Aces look to revamp their roster, her friendship with Caitlin Clark off the court continues to remain the same.
