According to 2K Games’ announcement on Wednesday, NBA 2K26 will be accessible soon. The feature players for this year were also disclosed by the company. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the star of the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be on the cover. He will be joined on the same by Carmelo Anthony. The WNBA Edition of the game will feature Angel Reese on its cover. However, the WNBA player has been facing criticism, and former NBA player Gilbert Arenas came to her support.
Angel Reese responds to NBA 2K26 cover backlash as Gilbert Arenas backs her star power
Gilbert Arenas of the former Washington Wizards offered a strong opinion on the escalating controversy surrounding Angel Reese’s appearance on the cover of NBA 2K. He maintained that, given her marketability, it would be wise to include her. He added that despite the WNBA legend’s lack of WNBA awards, he is convinced that she deserves to be on the cover. He further highlighted her almost unrivalled star power.The former NBA player also highlighted her instant influence in the WNBA and said: “[Reese] walked in the door as a superstar. There’s no accolades that she needed [because] her momentum came from college. She’s benefited in real-time on her superstardom.”In a clip from his “Gil’s Arena” podcast, he recently lauded her unwavering confidence and business mindset. He maintained that Angel Reese’s cultural significance and marketability shouldn’t be overshadowed by conventional measures like MVPs and titles. He then added:“Reese already possesses the characteristics of a cover athlete: visibility, branding, and momentum.” As per Sports Illustrated, Angel Reese has been receiving criticism for being the only WNBA player to appear on the cover of NBA 2K26, particularly from Caitlin Clark’s fans. They anticipated that her name would be revealed first. The podcast was created in response to the same.
Angel Reese is a popular WNBA player (Image via Instagram / @angelreese5)
Meanwhile, the WNBA legend can’t stop gushing over the opportunity. In an interview with PEOPLE, Reese talked candidly about the significance of being on the cover of NBA 2K among legends like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Carmelo Anthony. The Chicago Sky player stated: “I’m so blessed to be honored with these two.. I was just super excited…just trying to be the first of many, and have many young kids and young women look up to me and know that they can do the same things I’m doing.”NBA 2K26 is set to release on September 5, 2025, with the WNBA edition available exclusively at GameStop. Angel Reese’s cover marks a significant moment for women’s sports and the ongoing growth of WNBA players as cultural icons.With her signature shoe, a record-breaking rookie season, and now a 2K cover, Angel Reese is proving that she’s more than just a rising star; she’s a movement.Also read: NBA 2K26- Exploring the cover images, release date, cost, editions and all
