Another meeting went by on Monday, and the limbo continues. With only three months until the season starts and significant gaps still prevalent between the league and the players, the question of where athletes will play and under what terms is becoming increasingly unclear. And as that unfolds, Angel Reese appears to have already circled her destination.
The forward was recently in Australia to promote her new Reebok shoe, the Angel Reese 1 in Rose Dust. And while she was there, she remarked, “Maybe, maybe one day. I do like Australia, so maybe I’ll come out here to play one game or two.”
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If she does decide on a cameo in Down Under, it wouldn’t exactly be a surprise, especially since Australia has a long history of attracting top American talent. Jackie Young, Marina Mabrey, and Jordin Canada have all played in the WNBL in the last five seasons. Han Xu is currently playing for Perth but plans to return to the U.S. league after that.
To top that, Reese has a strong connection to Australia from her college days. She won an NCAA title with LSU alongside Australian point guard Last-Tear Poar, which made her respect the country’s defensive style even more.
October 26, 2023: LSU s Angel Reese 10 drives to the basket during an exhibition NCAA, College League, USA Women s Basketball game between the East Texas Baptist Tigers and the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA. /CSM Baton Rouge USA – ZUMAc04_ 20231026_zma_c04_017 Copyright: xJonathanxMailhesx
“You guys are great defenders,” Reese said. “My favorite defensive teammate is Last-Tear, she is literally risk it all. I remember one time she got a charge, hit her head on the ground, but she risked it all for the team. It gives me chills now, talking about it as we won a national championship together. Knowing (Aussies) always have your back, they’re competitors and great people.”
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From Michele Timms and Sandy Brondello to Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor, Australians have long been respected for their approach to defense, both on the international and WNBA stage. Last year, Alanna Smith claimed the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, while Ezi Magbegor was an All-Defensive first team selection a year before that and has twice made the Second Team, most recently in 2025.
Now, the timing of the 2x WNBA All-Star’s comment is important because of the ongoing CBA negotiations. In the first in-person meeting held for a new collective bargaining agreement since October, the sit-down in New York lasted three hours and was “helpful” to both sides. However, Nneka Ogwumike told Front Office Sports that the players were frustrated that the league did not arrive with a counterproposal to the union’s latest offer.
The WNBA’s most recent offer included an average salary of $530,000 and a maximum salary of $1.3 million in the first year of the deal. The players’ most recent offer, on the other hand, included an average salary of more than $800,000.
“I’m not going to settle for the same s— we did this year. We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s non-negotiable for me,” Reese toldThe Chicago Tribune.
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Her position shows that many players are frustrated about stalled talks and disagreements over how to share revenue. The season is supposed to begin May 8, but an expansion draft, free agency, and a rookie draft also need to happen before the league tips off.
And until that happens, let’s reflect on the 23-year-old a bit.
What makes Angel Reese a sweet international prospect?
The fight over workers’ rights isn’t just about money and contracts. It changes everything, from how players heal their injuries to when teams can get ready for the season. Angel Reese’s injury is a great example of how things can get out of hand. Fans were shocked when she didn’t play at all in Unrivaled’s second season.
Credit: IMAGN
They loved watching her dominate the league’s first year. She was unstoppable with the Rose Basketball Club, as she led them to the championship and became the most exciting player in the league. Now, just imagine if she brought the same firepower to WNBL!
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Reese had a stubborn back injury that kept her out of 14 games during the 2025 WNBA season. Things got worse toward the end when she missed the last few games of the season in Chicago. But whenever she was healthy and on the floor, she still put up numbers that made people sit up and take notice.
In the 30 games she played last year, Reese scored an average of 14.7 points and made 45.8 percent of her shots. When you look at rebounds, the numbers get even crazier. She averaged 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in about 31 minutes. This was the best in the league. She was even named an All-Star for the second year in a row.
If everything goes well, Reese will be fully healed by the start of the 2026 season and ready to go. On May 9, Chicago will open its campaign against Portland and the Fire expansion team. Who do you think will win this? Let us know in the comments.
