Paige Bueckers Leads Breeze BC to Semifinals, Angel Reese Faces Fan Backlash

Breeze BC advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Unrivaled playoffs with a decisive 69-50 victory over Angel Reese and Rose BC on Saturday night. The win was largely fueled by a stellar performance from Paige Bueckers, who scored a game-high 29 points.

Bueckers Dominates, Malonga Impresses

Paige Bueckers showcased her offensive prowess, shooting 11-of-19 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range. She also contributed four rebounds and two assists. Dominique Malonga had an impressive performance off the bench, recording a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds in just over 15 minutes of play. Cameron Brink added nine points, and Courtney Williams chipped in with eight points and a team-high five assists.

Rose BC Struggles, Reese Faces Criticism

Rose BC struggled offensively, shooting just 36% from the field. Kahleah Copper led Rose BC with 15 points, but shot only 6-of-16. Chelsea Gray added 11 points, but was inefficient from the field, going 5-of-18. Angel Reese scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in nearly 14 minutes of action.

Despite her contribution, Reese faced significant backlash from fans on social media following the loss. Comments criticized her impact on the team, with some fans pointing to Rose BC’s 1-3 record in games where she played. One fan on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “Angel Reese ruined this team,” while others questioned her defensive capabilities and overall performance. Another user criticized the league’s decision to bring Reese in, citing a perceived negative impact on ratings.

Unrivaled Playoff Bracket Update

With Breeze BC’s victory, the Unrivaled playoff bracket is set for the semifinals:

• No. 1 seed Phantom vs. No. 6 seed Vinyl, Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET
• No. 2 seed Mist vs. No. 5 seed Breeze, Monday at 8:45 p.m. ET

The finals are scheduled for Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Reese’s Return and All-Unrivaled Recognition

Angel Reese joined Rose BC in February after initially not being part of the 2026 Unrivaled season. She averaged 13.0 points, and 10.3 rebounds during her time with the team and became the fastest player to reach 200 rebounds in league history, achieving the mark in just 17 games. Despite her contributions, Reese was not selected for the All-Unrivaled teams, a decision she acknowledged with a simple “i imply DUH” comment on the league’s announcement. Her teammate, Chelsea Gray, along with Bueckers and Kelsey Plum, were named to the First Team All-Unrivaled.

Early Game Dynamics

Saturday’s contest began competitively, with Rose BC holding a 15-14 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter. But, Breeze BC responded with an 18-4 run, led by Cameron Brink, and never relinquished control of the game. Breeze led by as many as 21 points in the second half, ultimately sealing the victory with a free throw from Dominique Malonga.