Angel Reese, the 23-year-old forward for the Chicago Sky, took time off from her WNBA duties on Saturday night to attend UFC 319 at the United Center in Chicago, stirring public curiosity about her personal life. The outing, captured on Reese’s social media as a date night, generated buzz about a possible romantic link with Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.
Angel Reese’s Evening Away from Basketball Draws Attention
<pReese, currently sidelined by a back injury that has kept her out of the last seven games for the Chicago Sky, chose to enjoy the mixed martial arts event headlined by a middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. Though Chimaev secured a commanding victory over five rounds to claim the UFC middleweight championship, it was Reese’s unidentified male companion that attracted social media speculation.
The 23-year-old posted Instagram Stories that included a clip captioned date night. In the video, a man in a grey jacket is seen beside her, though his face remains hidden. Online fans reacted quickly, speculating the mystery guest might be Wendell Carter Jr., reigniting rumors about their relationship.
One Twitter user noted,
I swear that’s Wendell Carter jr.
—fan on X.com
Another added,
I’m watching this UFC fight & I see Wendell Carter & Angel Reese posted [laughing emoji].
—user on X.com
A third observer questioned,
Was that not Angel Reese and Wendell Carter?
—social media follower
Past Appearances Fuel Relationship Rumors
Carter has been publicly supportive of Reese in the past, notably attending the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis wearing a shirt with Reese’s name and sharing photos together. Additional sightings include Carter’s attendance at Reese’s 23rd birthday celebration in May and Reese’s appearances at multiple Orlando Magic home games last season. Neither athlete has confirmed any romantic involvement.
Reese currently remains inactive as the Sky face a challenging season; the team will not qualify for the WNBA Playoffs regardless of her return. Their next scheduled game is against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, August 19, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, with tip-off at 8:00 PM ET.
Angel Reese’s Continued Community Involvement
Despite her hiatus from professional play, Reese stays engaged through her off-court efforts, notably promoting her upcoming Back-to-School Bash organized by the Angel Reese Foundation in collaboration with Reebok. The event, set for August 24 at Intentional Sports in Chicago, intends to distribute free backpacks and school supplies to 1,000 students.
During the event, Reese will host a special community chat alongside her mother, Angel Webb Reese, with guest speakers addressing important topics like mental health, bullying prevention, and family support for student success. Fans attending will also have an opportunity to meet Reese in person.
Her commitment to community outreach highlights Reese’s leadership and dedication beyond the court, maintaining her positive presence despite injury setbacks and team challenges.