Angel Reese, Carmelo Anthony selected as NBA 2K26 special edition cover stars

2K Games is back again with another reveal: WNBA star Angel Reese and NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony are the cover athletes for NBA 2K26‘s special editions. The Chicago Sky forward will grace the cover of NBA 2K26: WNBA Edition, while Melo is featured on the Superstar Edition.

Angel Reese is only in her second year in the WNBA, but has quickly made a name for herself; the “Chi-Town Barbie” has become the fastest player to reach 500 points and 500 rebounds, reaching the milestone in only 38 games played ( a full WNBA season is 44 games). Furthermore, Reese currently holds the rookie record for the most consecutive double-doubles, with 15, surpassing the previous record of 12 held by the legendary Candace Parker.

“Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone—it’s a statement,” said Reese in a press release. “It’s about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space unapologetically. To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey, but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole. I’m proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate.”

Carmelo Anthony, on the other hand, was recently named to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame class, capping off a 19-year NBA career. During his time on the court, Melo managed to set the NCAA Tournament record for most points scored by a freshman player with 778. His iconic one-and-done college career also saw him become the leading scorer in the 2003 NCAA tournament with 121 points.

As a New York Knick, Anthony established the single-game scoring record, scoring 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2014. Additionally, Melo holds the record for most points scored in an Olympic game, putting up 37 against Nigeria back in 2012.

And now players will have the chance to once again put their opponents on ice with Melo’s talents at their disposal.

“For more than 20 years, 2K fans have been a part of my journey,” said Anthony. “Being honored on the cover of NBA 2K26 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year is surreal. It’s a celebration of every chapter, every city that embraced me, every team that believed in me, and every person who’s been part of this ride with me.”

The WNBA Edition will be a GameStop exclusive and will retail for $69.99 on PS5 and Xbox Series X. The Superstar Edition, on the other hand, will retail for $99.99 and will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The WNBA Edition will only be available in the United States in physical copy.

2K Games also announced that the NBA 2K26: Leave No Doubt Edition will feature both Angel and Melo, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on a special edition cover. The Leave No Doubt Edition will be available for purchase through Sept. 7 for $149.99 on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

2K Games will release NBA 2K26 Standard Edition, WNBA Edition, and Superstar Edition on Sept. 5, with the standard version being available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch 2, retailing for $69.99 and $59.99 on Nintendo Switch.