The Unrivaled matchup between Angel Reese’s Rose and the Laces on Monday night ended in disappointment for Reese’s team, as they suffered their third loss of the season. However, the real buzzworthy moment came after the game, when Laces center Stefanie Dolson was awarded a golden shoe in the locker room for her perceived shutdown of Reese.
The gesture, made by Tiffany Hayes, sparked widespread debate on social media, with many fans questioning the validity of the claim that Dolson had effectively shut down Reese. Despite Dolson’s impressive credentials, including her status as a former WNBA All-Star and champion, as well as her substantial salary of $170,000 for the 2025 season, fans were quick to point out that Reese had actually delivered a strong performance against the Laces.
“Shutdown where? 17 points and 60% from the field is shutting down?” one fan asked, echoing the sentiments of many others. Another fan noted, “So her dropping 17, 7, 2, and 2 on their head is shutting her down? 2/3 buckets she scored was on Dolson, I’m in confusion.”
Other fans were quick to highlight the fact that Reese had actually managed to put Dolson in foul trouble during the game, further undermining the claim that Dolson had shut her down. As one fan wryly observed, “Mind you, she put Dolson in foul trouble… but hey, she shut her down.”
The controversy surrounding Dolson’s golden shoe award has sparked a lively debate about the nature of defensive performance and the criteria used to evaluate it. While Dolson is undoubtedly a talented and accomplished player, the perception that she had shut down Reese appears to be based on incomplete or inaccurate information.
As the Unrivaled season continues to unfold, fans will be keeping a close eye on the performances of both Reese and Dolson, as well as the narrative surrounding their rivalry. One thing is certain, however: the golden shoe award has become a symbol of the ongoing debate about defensive excellence and the complexities of evaluating player performance.
