They say, my rival’s best friend is my best friend! WNBA fans are eager to find out if that becomes a reality in the upcoming Unrivaled League after the teams were announced on November 20. While the rosters of all the six teams are set, one that is particularly getting most of the attention is Rose BC. Guess why?
The obvious is the presence of Angel Reese. But that is only a part of the excitement. Alongside, Reese, representing the Rose BC are Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes, and… hold your breath…Caitlin Clark’s teammate Lexie Hull!
Hull was Indiana’s No. 6 pick in the 2022 WNBA draft. She had earned a starting spot in the 2023 season, but when Clark joined the team in 2024, she came off the bench. However, toward the end of the season, Clark and Hull’s chemistry became apparent, earning her starting spot back in the final few games and the playoffs with her solid three-point shooting. So What does that mean?
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Fever fans are caught in a tricky spot. Because, if they are supporting Lexie Hull, they effectively have to stand beside Angel Reese, forgetting her rivalry with Caitlin Clark for a moment. While her participation in the League still clouded, that did not stop Clark from giving shout out to Hull.
When the Indiana Fever posted on Instagram a carousel of Hull “back in the lab,” the first comment at the top was from the 22-year-old phenom gushing over her teammate, 25. “She’s inspiring … truly,” wrote Clark. Hull, on the other hand, gives her flowers to Clark by pointing out one of her abilities that is often overlooked.
It is the long-distance shots and the nifty ball-handling skills of the Fever guard that gets most of the attention. But according toHull, equally good is her passing ability. In a conversation with Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones on “The Young Man and The Three,” the 6’1″ guard discussed Clark’s ability to thread the needle and get the ball to her open teammates for several easy buckets. “I definitely got passes and tried to finish when I wasn’t expecting to get the ball,” Hull noted. Even Angel Reese hailed this ability,
“It’s so cool. When she gets the ball I’m running looking for the ball because I know she’s going to throw it,” Reese had said of Clark after the 2024 WNBA All-Star game. Now that she is pairing up with Hull, it remains to be seen if Reese can create the same magic as Clark does.
The remaining teams were also unveiled. Lunar BC has Napheesa Collier and a wildcard, while Phantom has Jackie Young, also with a wildcard. Mist got Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum is with Laces. Arike Ogunbowale will be playing on Vinyl.
A major speculation is still at large about the identities of the two wildcards. Clearly, Angel Reese isn’t getting paired with Caitlin Clark or A’ja Wilson in case they change their minds about playing. Still, there’s enough reason for Indiana fans to be split over Rose’s roster as they are coming out with their reactions to the bombshell news.
Fever fans left stunned by Lexie Hull teaming up with Angel Reese
A fan on X wrote, “Lexie Hull and Angel Reese on the same Unrivaled team… so that means Indiana Fever fans have to cheer for Angel… I’m crying. 🤣🤣🤣🤣” The reaction is no surprise given the heated rivalry between Reese and Caitlin Clark. Since their NCAA face-off last year, the pair have been constantly making headlines and that has increased several fold once they joined the WNBA. Indiana fans now are left in a sticky situation to support Lexie and also clap for Reese.
Lexie Hull and Angel Reese on the same Unrivavled team… so that means Indiana Fever fans have to cheer for Angel… I’m crying. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/SfJnf1PnMl
— n a t a l i e (@nataliethehero) November 20, 2024
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Another disappointed fan added, “Who put this team together, I just wanna talk”. The user also inserted a GIF featuring Peter Griffin from Family Guy, leaning on the window with a glass of wine. That perfectly sums up the somber mood among the Fever fans. Seeing Reese and Caitlin together has been a treat as proved in the WNBA All-Star weekend but probably they don’t look too keen with this one.
“They internationally (read intentionally) did it cause they know cc will come support her and they can write things like cc came to support angel Reese or came to watch her they trying to continue story lines,” commented an X user. Despite the narrative around their supposed rivalry, Caitlin Clark has gone on record to say, “I’m pretty sure the only people that view this as a rivalry is all of you.” Despite her playing down on it, the story writes itself creating a commercial appeal to the whole scenario.
“Angel Reese, Lexie Hull…. See, they either put up 9 after missing 23 shots or they put up 27 on just 10 shots. But you can never tell which is going to happen on any given day”, someone speculated. Lexie Hull shot 47.1% from the 3-pts line last season. But her flurry of scoring came only during the month of August. On the other hand, Reese is predominantly a rebounding machine. But shooting-wise, she didn’t exactly set the league alight. So the commentor’s assumption might just come true on any given day.
“Now Lexie Hull to play with Angel Reese. 🤣”, one fan wrote. Seeing the two together will certainly be an added incentive for the viewers. Not only that post-game comments about one another would also draw a lot of eyes and ears to the league. So all in all Reese teaming up with Lexie Hull is going to be one of the stories of the Unrivaled.
Rose BC will play their first game against the Vinyl BC on Jan 17 next year. Given everything goes smoothly, that game should have the moment where Angel Reese will be in the same threads as Hull. Will Caitlin Clark be watching and cheering on her teammate? That’s exactly what we’re waiting for.
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