Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The Rose secured their first Unrivaled victory of the season with a 71-66 victory over the Mist on Saturday.
After starting the season 0-2, the Rose defeated the winless 0-4 Mist, along with league co-creator Breanna Stewart, who posted 20 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Lexie Hull contributed 19 points off the bench, while starters Kahleah Copper added 18 points and Chelsea Gray chipped in with 12 points. Angel Reese, the team’s third starter, struggled with just four points, five rebounds and three turnovers in eight minutes.
Social media reacted to the Rose’s first victory of the season despite Reese’s struggles:
LA Sparks PR @LASparksPR
Sparks big Azurá Stevens helped Rose Basketball Club get its first win at Unrivaled with 16 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds and three assists off the bench.
The Reese Effect 👑 @TheReeseEffect
Angel Reese final stats vs Mist@Unrivaledwbb
4 PTS
6 REB
1 AST
1 STLRose pick up their first win of the season! 🌹🔥#Unrivaled pic.twitter.com/R9oyMuSw5q
WNBACentral @WNBACentral_
ROSE BC SECURES THEIR FIRST UNRIVALED LEAGUE WIN🔥🌹 pic.twitter.com/M3z43ch7rB
James Profetto @JamesProfetto
y’all I was at a sports bar and they didn’t put on #Unrivaled after I asked BUT I SAW THE CHELSEA GRAY GAME-WINNER!
Let’s go, Rose BC!
Lori Harvey Jr. 💁🏽♀️ @keke_shontae
And shoutout to the Rose for beating the Mist & The Refs 🥳🥳 #Unrivaled
sohali – CC @sohali2012
The Rose team may win a game cause they playing Lexie Hull first time. Unrivaled got the memo.
Shae . @shae_murdah
The Rose beat the Mist and the refs. Wow super happy for my girls #Unrivaled
Desert Wave Media @DesertWaveCo
Kahleah Copper finishes with 18 points, four rebounds and a steal.
Rose gets its first win of the season, 71-66. #Unrivaled #WNBA #ValleyTogether
The Rose stand in fifth place, second to last, in the league, two game behind frontrunners the Laces who are a perfect 3-0.
“We needed a win. We needed to get it done,” Gray said postgame, per USA Today’s Safid Deen.
Reese has been averaging 8.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists over the team’s first three games. Copper leads the team, averaging 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals for the Rose.
Despite her struggles on Saturday, shooting 2-of-6, Reese has been receiving assistance from Copper with finishing around the basket during the WNBA offseason. She has looked promising in clips shared on Unrivaled’s social media.
Unrivaled Basketball @Unrivaledwbb
Only at Unrivaled 😈 pic.twitter.com/IsyJhupKaJ
Along with her paint play, Reese has shown improvement in practice, focusing on her three-point shooting form while working alongside Lisa Leslie and Napheesa Collier, despite not attempting any three-pointers during Saturday’s game.
The Rose will look to grab another win on Monday against the Laces.
