Angel Reese Visits Terence Crawford Ahead of Canelo Alvarez Undisputed Title Fight

Angel Reese was at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday and visited Terence Crawford in his locker room before Crawford's highly anticipated bout with Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed middleweight title.

Reese and Crawford posed for a photograph in the moments before the fight, a scene that drew attention because of Reese's prominence in the WNBA and her recent well-publicized tensions with the Chicago Sky. The Alvarez-Crawford fight, part of Turki Alalshikh's "Riyadh Season," was streamed live on Netflix.

Reese has been at the center of a dispute with the Sky since comments she made to the Chicago Tribune prompted the team to suspend her for half of a game. In the Tribune 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. After the suspension, she did not appear in the Sky's final three games; the team listed her as sidelined with a back injury.

Sky head coach Jeff Pagliocca defended Reese's place on the team while acknowledging the controversy. "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's appearance at the Las Vegas event underscored her profile beyond the WNBA. The 21-year-old forward has been widely noted for her on-court production and outspoken manner; team and league officials have handled the Sky situation as a personnel and public-relations matter since the interview and ensuing suspension.

Crawford moved up three weight classes for the match against Alvarez, a pairing that matched two fighters who have occupied top positions in the pound-for-pound rankings. The bout was one of the highest-profile fights of the year, drawing mainstream attention and celebrity attendees.

Reese's presence at the arena came as the Sky and Reese navigated public scrutiny and internal discussions about her future with the team. The Sky's official game summaries listed her as out with a back injury for the final stretch of the season after the suspension. Team officials have emphasized continued dialogue with Reese and her representatives.

The episode adds to a season of heightened attention around Reese, who remains a prominent figure in women's basketball. The Sky enter their offseason facing roster and public-relations questions tied to the dispute, while Reese's public appearances continue to draw media coverage across sports platforms.