Angel Reese Poses with Terence Crawford at Alvarez-Crawford Card Amid Chicago Sky Dispute

Angel Reese attended Saturday night’s high-profile boxing card at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and greeted Terence Crawford in his locker room before Crawford’s bout against Canelo Alvarez.

The photograph of Reese towering over Crawford circulated on social media as Alvarez and Crawford met in a fight for Alvarez’s undisputed middleweight title. The bout was part of Turki Alalshikh’s “Riyadh Season” events and was streamed live on Netflix. Crawford, one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters, moved up three weight classes for the matchup.

Reese’s appearance at the event drew attention because she remains embroiled in a public dispute with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. The team suspended Reese for half of one game after comments she made in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that the Sky described as “detrimental to the team.” In that interview, Reese said she would not be “settling for the same s–t we did this year,” and acknowledged she might do “what’s best for me” if conditions did not change.

Following the suspension, Reese did not take the court for the Sky’s final three games of the season; the team listed her with a back injury. Sky head coach Jeff Pagliocca said the organization had worked to resolve the matter. "Angel is an ascending young talent in this league who’s had two very, very good seasons here in Chicago," Pagliocca said. "Obviously, we went through what we did. I feel like we closed the chapter on it. She spoke to her teammates. She spoke publicly. We moved on as a team. She’s a special player. And I have good conversations with Angel daily, with her team daily. They’re constant, and they’re productive."

Reese, a high-profile forward known for her physical play and outspoken manner, has drawn attention both for on-court performance and off-court comments since entering the league. Her presence at the Las Vegas fight highlighted the crossover appeal of women’s basketball figures at major combat sports events and underscored the scrutiny she faces amid the Sky’s internal matters.

Crawford’s match with Alvarez represented a rare meeting of two fighters long ranked among the best in the sport. The fight and surrounding fanfare, including celebrity and athlete attendance, amplified media focus on attendees such as Reese while the Sky and the forward continued to navigate the post-season fallout.