Angel Reese and Rose BC are proving everyone wrong, one game at a time. In its inaugural season, Rose BC was predicted to finish in last place, according to ESPN’s preseason rankings. But now, the team has risen to second place—defying expectations and making a serious statement.

After the first 10 games of the season, Angel Reese and company sit just below Lunar Owls BC with a 6-4 record. And of course, Chi-Town Barbie has played a massive role in their success—especially in their recent 71-59 win over Phantom BC.

Reese Dominates as Roses Outwork Phantom

If there’s one thing the Chicago Sky standout is going to do, it’s crash the boards—and she did just that. Maintaining her rhythm from the previous game, she started in the lineup alongside Lexie Hull and Chelsea Gray. The WNBA’s rebounding leader pulled down 14 rebounds, while also dropping 23 points and dishing out five assists. No doubt, she was a force all night, ensuring Phantom BC never had a chance to control the game.

It was like she could not be stopped once she stepped onto the court, leaving Brittney Griner scrambling on both ends of the floor. On Friday, against Lunar Owls, she wrote history as the first player to record a double-double in Unrivaled. And now, she wanted the Phantoms to have a taste of her ink as her dominance led to yet another double-double.

Displaying her efficient shooting, she took 8 of 16 from the field, drilling 1 of 4 from three-point range, and then sinking all 3 of her free throw attempts. But she wasn’t alone. As Reese put it: “It takes every petal to make the rose.” And the Roses proved it! Chelsea Gray was just as sensational, contributing 26 points while completely taking over down the stretch with nine rebounds and seven assists.

On the other side, Satou Sabally (17 points) and Sabrina Ionescu (15 points) did their best to keep Phantom BC in the game. But without second-chance opportunities, their efforts fell short. Phantom managed just three offensive rebounds, meaning every missed shot was essentially a turnover.

“We have a chip on our shoulder right now. They ranked us at the bottom. We were the last team. Nobody believed in us, and we believed in each other in that locker room,” Reese said postgame, reminding everyone about the Roses’ five-game winning streak and the way they had underestimated them in the beginning. “So, we just keep working, and the work shows.”

And work, they did. The Roses out-rebounded Phantom BC while also shooting better from beyond the arc (43.5% vs. 35.7%), with Chelsea Gray (5-8) and Lexie Hull (3-6) knocking down key shots. But this wasn’t just about one game.

Despite criticism, Angel Reese continues to rise

Over the last five games, Reese has been phenomenal, averaging 15.8 points per game. Just a few nights ago, she made Unrivaled history with the first-ever 20-20 game in a win over No. 1 Lunar Owls BC. And Monday night’s performance marked her fourth straight double-double in the last five games. This triumph held special significance for the team as they dealt the previously undefeated Owls their first loss. Reflecting on the win, Reese had said: “We knew that they were 8-0, and no one believed in us outside of that locker room. It was just us. That’s all that matters.”

She also acknowledged that at 22 and with all the negativity and the pressure, what keeps her going is the way young girls and college students look up to her. And it is true, the criticism can get too much even after a single misstep. When the Rose BC clinched their first Unrivaled victory in late January, the focus shifted from celebrating the team’s achievement to criticizing Reese, whose performance fell short of fans’ expectations.

But it is good to know that she has her petals. Teammate Lexie Hull had nothing but praise for Reese, saying: “Her competitiveness is just so evident… you hear her and you feel her. As a teammate, it’s awesome. It’s great to have on your side.” 

Up next, Reese and company will take on Mist BC on Saturday, March 1, in what promises to be another high-energy battle. It’s veteran Breanna Stewart vs. rookie Angel Reese—exciting, right?

Especially when Reese is more than ready. “First one in the gym, last one to leave the gym,” she once said. And the stats back her up—Rose BC has a 60% win rate compared to Mist BC’s 30%.

So, what do you think? Who’s grabbing the win?