Angel Reese Wants To Be The Face Of Women's Basketball For Reebok

Angel Reese signed a NIL deal with Reebok in college as the brand looked to re-launch its basketball category. And now, as a member of the WNBA's Chicago Sky, she's continuing that partnership.

In a recent social media video, Reese explained on Live Bitez the three reasons why she turned down Nike in favor of a deal with Reebok.

"So many different shoe companies wanted to work with me. But I chose Reebok," Reese said. "What was it about Reebok? One, they don’t have a woman’s basketball player (who is) a face. So I wanted to be that.

"Two, Shaq. You know my relationship with Shaq. And three, I like how they’re re-branding everything and they’re letting me be the creator behind everything I want to do. So I’m having my own shoe line coming out, merch with my name on it. … Y’all like what I wear, y’all like how I dress, y’all like my style. I wanted to incorporate that into Reebok."

When she signed her initial deal, Reese received her own dedicated portion of the online store, and Reebok also plans to launch her own capsule collection this fall. She will also provide input and feedback on design and product ahead of the brand’s basketball re-launch.

"I’m bringing Reebok back," she said.

Angel Reese wears Reebok sneakers in the Chicago Sky's preseason game against the Minnesota Lynx.

(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

As a star at LSU, Reese was one of college sports' top NIL earners. She left Baton Rouge with an On3 NIL Valuation of $1.8 million — ranked No. 8 in the country. When she declared for the WNBA draft, critics warned Reese the move would come with a pay cut. But she wasn't worried.

"For me, I’ve honestly learned that, regardless, I’m going to be able to make money staying or going," Reese said. "Understanding that my brand has been built where I know that more than being in college is something that I can do.

"…I have a brand outside of here where the deals are going to follow me if I leave or stay. And I’ve built that relationship with a lot of these Brands. I don’t just have brands that are in college. I have brands that are long-term deals that are just past college."

And with this recent Reebok partnership, it sounds like she was right.