Angel Reese’s rise to the top of the women’s basketball world has been meteoric. The Chicago Sky forward has gained fans from all walks of life.
One of those fans is Kayla Nicole, the former girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. After Reese was named the Unrivaled League’s Defensive Player of the Year, Nicole couldn’t help but praise her.
Kayla Nicole Shares Her Reaction to Angel Reese Being Named Unrivaled’s DPOY
On March 15, the 3-on-3 league announced its end-of-season honors, and Rose Basketball Club’s Reese was voted by her peers as the league’s top defensive player.
While Reese’s rookie WNBA season was cut short due to injury, she has thrived with the Roses. “Bayou Barbie” played all 14 regular-season games, averaging 3.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Nicole took to her Instagram story to post a congratulatory message to Reese. With a one-word reaction, she highlighted the 22-year-old’s tenacity. “Tough,” wrote Nicole over a picture of Reese being named Unrivaled’s DPOY for its inaugural season.
Despite the praise Reese is receiving, she is also facing criticism from a segment of basketball fans. Some argue that Reese did not make Unrivaled’s first team and that the DPOY award should have gone to Lunar Owls BC’s Napheesa Collier, a forward for the Minnesota Lynx.
Collier averaged 25.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, all while averaging just 18.6 minutes per contest.
Her performance earned her the 2025 Unrivaled MVP award.
Reese Set to Miss Unrivaled Semifinals
Rose BC is set to face Laces BC in the semifinals on Sunday for a spot in the championship game. However, Reese suffered an injury in the final game of the regular season, keeping her out of the matchup.
“Angel Reese is OUT of tomorrow’s semifinals game due to a hand injury she sustained in the final game of the regular season, per Unrivaled,” reported ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
“She could be seen grabbing at her left wrist in the third quarter before exiting the game — the same wrist she had surgery on in September.”
The two teams met three times in the regular season, with Laces BC winning the first game while Reese and company dominated the next two. Without Reese playing a key role, the semifinal could be a tight contest, with both teams having a strong chance to advance.