The Unrivaled is keeping the excitement alive. After record-breaking viewership for the opening week, massive social media impressions, and nods from some of basketball’s best, the 3×3 league is back to deliver an experience of newness. About 4 weeks in, we are introduced to the thrilling 1 vs 1 tournament.
Starting on February 10, 2025, the tournament features 23 WNBA stars battling it out in a single-elimination format, with a grand prize of $200,000 for the winner. This high-stakes competition promises intense matchups and a chance for players to prove their dominance in isolation play. However, two of the biggest names in the sport, Angel Reese and Sabrina Ionescu, are notably absent from the lineup, raising questions about why they are not part of this groundbreaking event.
Sabrina Ionescu hops on multiple projects
Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament kicked off Monday night, but the biggest buzz isn’t just about the competition—it’s about who’s missing. While injuries have sidelined seven players, the absence of Angel Reese and Sabrina Ionescu has sparked the most conversation.
While there has been no solid word about the absence, the league’s president, Alex Bazzell had revealed some players have a clause in their Unrivaled contracts that exempts them from participating. Reese and Ionescu are very likely among them.
The New York Liberty star has made it clear that her health and form for the WNBA are a bigger priority. “This is the middle of our offseason, so there is a fine line between understanding you are here to get better and work,” she told ESPN. “But for me, I can’t be as intensely locked in as I am in the W. I’d be burned out by the time the W season starts.”
Oct 13, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Lynx during game two of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Ionescu is only returning from surgery this past December to repair a torn UCL in her right thumb. Before the league started, she had revealed that she wasn’t 100% yet but was cleared to play. Ionescu even had to fly from Miami ahead of the inaugural game for follow-up appointments. Plus, considering the fast-paced and intense nature of the 1 vs 1, she’d have preferred avoiding possible missteps.
However, that isn’t all. The 2024 champion has remained deeply involved in other commitments, possibly taking away practice time.
The first of it came when she flew to Paris for the NBA games and promoted the Swiss Luxury watch brand Tissot at the event. Then came not 1, but two Super Bowl commercials. Ionescu featured alongside elite female athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and more for the first Nike Super Bowl ad in 27 years. She also made it alongside Willem Dafoe and Catherine O’Hara, among others for a full 60-second Michelob Ultra ad. She calls it a win in her books.
Lastly, Ionescu is involved in the NBA’s anticipated three-point contest for the All-Star weekend. The Liberty icon has been booked and busy, making for her absence at the 1 vs 1. But what’s with Angel Reese?
Angel Reese is still out making history
Unlike Ionescu, the Chi-Town Barbie has been largely excited about her involvement in the Unrivaled. So her absence is a bit of a surprise and Reese has offered no reasoning either. However, she has visibly kept herself focused on other commitments too.
For the firsts, the 22-year-old was involved with coaching Kai Cenat’s flag football team. Just ahead of that, she had a Super Bowl commercial to shoot for.
Recently unveiling her partnership with McDonald’s Reese became the first female athlete to have her own signature McDonald’s meal. The Angel Reese Meal features a Quarter Pounder stacked with cheese, crispy bacon, onions, pickles, and McDonald’s new Smoky Bold BBQ Sauce—a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy twist on a classic. It comes with a side of crispy fries and your choice of a Hi-C Orange Lavaburst or a soft drink. McDonald’s is calling the Smoky Bold BBQ Sauce a “game-changer,” adding an extra kick of flavor to the fan-favorite burger.
This was to have a full one-minute ad for the Super Bowl. The Chi-Town Barbie even included WNBA legends Lisa Leslie, Breanna Stewart, and even Latto for the shoot. Moreover, considering it comes down to the clause, the absence may have been long-decided; meaning Reese would have wanted to avoid any injury threats 1 vs 1 poses just ahead of her 2nd year in the W.
Looks like it would come down to prioritizing health.
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