WNBA star Angel Reese made headlines in 2024 when she signed with Shaquille O’Neal’s Reebok, becoming the centerpiece of the brand’s rebranding push. “I wanted to be a priority ’cause I could have signed easily with Nike,” Reese explained. With her signature shoes set to drop, expectations were high—but controversy soon followed. A viral tweet on X claimed Reebok has already lost $15 million on the deal, alleging sales have barely topped 250 pairs and casting doubt on the partnership’s future. The question is how true those claims are—especially with Shaq doubling down on even bigger plans?

Ever since Reebok first teased Angel Reese’s debut sneaker, the hype has been real. From her big on-court moments to landing the NBA 2K26 cover, the Reebok Angel Reese 1 ad has been everywhere. And earlier last month, Reebok finally made it official—the Chicago Sky forward’s first signature basketball shoe drops September 18, complete with pics, pricing, and all the tech details. Even better, it’s not just the sneakers—Reebok is also rolling out a full apparel collection with graphic tees, cropped tanks, hoodies, and sweats that all mirror Reese’s unapologetic energy and style off the court. Did Shaq put a wrong gamble?

There’s no evidence to support the swirling rumors, and Shaquille O’Neal has now put them to rest in a conversation with Sports Illustrated. “Her shoes have been sold out. We have sold a lot of her shoes,” he said with confidence, dismissing any doubt about the success of Angel Reese’s debut line. Shaq admitted there were some nerves around the launch, but quickly followed with a rallying, “In we go!” Then came the twist even he didn’t see coming: “The crazy thing that I didn’t even anticipate—you got men wanting her shoe. That’s impressive.” Shaq left no room for speculation as he hinted Angel Reese’s kicks aren’t struggling, but soaring.

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t just stop at shutting down the rumors—he also revealed just how strong the demand has been for Angel Reese’s shoes. “I get calls all the time, ‘Hey, I need a size 13,’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t even think we make that. Let me call,’” Shaq admitted, underscoring how the buzz has gone beyond what the brand initially anticipated. He added that this is only the beginning, promising more to come with “the Angel Reese Deuce and the Angel Reese 3.” At just 23 years old, Reese is only scratching the surface of her potential, and with Shaq behind her, the partnership looks built for the long run.

The Reebok Angel Reese 1 comes in three distinct colorways—“Diamond Dust,” “Mebounds,” and “Receipts Ready”—each tied to Reese’s personality. All three launch globally third week of September for $120 in adult sizes, available on Reebok.com and at select retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods. Reese herself summed it up perfectly: “This isn’t just a shoe, it’s my style, my story, and my stamp on the game.” And Shaq, who helped push the collab forward, is already feeling the demand: “I get calls all the time, ‘Hey, I need a size 13,’ and I’m like ‘I don’t even think we make that. Let me call.’ So, we’re going to continue to work with her.”

In 2023, O’Neal made what felt like a full-circle move—stepping back into Reebok, but this time as president. The same brand he walked away from in ’98 was now in his hands to rebuild. And Shaq made it clear from the jump what the mission was. “… Reebok needs to do to get back into competitive space.” And for that, he needed someone who could make people go, ‘Oh my God.’ Enter Angel Reese, who Shaq himself called the biggest impact player in the game right now.

From the jump, Angel Reese wasn’t just signing a sneaker deal—she was stepping into a role where she could lead. She saw Reebok as a brand missing a powerful female face, and she wanted to be that presence. Add in her close bond with Shaq and the chance to actually have creative control over her own line, and the fit was too perfect to pass up. And she made her intentions crystal clear: “I wanted to be a priority ’cause I could have signed easily with Nike. I could sign easily with Jordan, but everybody’s doing that. I don’t like doing what everybody do. I like to do the complete opposite. I’m bringing Reebok back.” But was she really the first pick?

Shaq’s first pick for Reebok wasn’t Angel Reese

When Shaquille O’Neal took over as president of Reebok Basketball in 2023, the mission was clear: rebuild the brand’s basketball presence and bring in stars who could make it relevant again. For Shaq, the first big name on his list was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With SGA’s Converse deal nearing its end in 2024, Shaq thought he could swoop in and land the Thunder guard. But the reality hit him hard—Reebok wasn’t the powerhouse it used to be.

“I had to deal with something I never had to deal with: budgets,” Shaq admitted. “Cuz I’m like, ‘Imma sign Shai, I’ma sign all these players.’ But hollering at their agents, the m——– wants $60 million. And now I gotta go back to the Board and they said, ‘Man, you ain’t got \$60 million.'” In the end, SGA re-signed with Converse on a massive deal that not only kept him but also named him creative director of Converse Basketball. Shaq didn’t take it lightly. “Not signing SGA kind of hurt me personally. It’s personal because it is a challenge, and I don’t like failing. I know we could have definitely made him a megastar. No knock against Converse, but forget him.”

But Shaq, being Shaq, he pivoted. If he couldn’t land a reigning NBA MVP, he was going to take a big swing elsewhere. That’s when he made the call to Angel Reese. “Since we’re starting all over, we going to start with the younger generation,” he said. Shaq explained that he decided to make a bold move and call Angel Reese directly, telling her that while Nike would likely only offer a standard shoe, he could give her something bigger—her own signature sneaker. That personal pitch sealed the deal, and Shaq considered signing Reese his own major accomplishment.

Reese, fresh off her 2023 NCAA title run with LSU and a standout rookie year with the Chicago Sky, became one of Shaq’s cornerstone signings. By October 2024, Reebok doubled down, giving her a multi-year extension and making her the sixth active WNBA player to have her own signature shoe. Shaq’s first big dream with SGA slipped away, but in Angel Reese, he found a rising star to lead Reebok’s new era.