For all these years in the limelight, Angel Reese hasn’t been short of appreciation. With all her endeavors on and off the court, praises have followed her around just like glory. But none of it can match the significance of the latest one she received for her impact on the hoops community as well as outside of it, because it came from none other than the former First Lady, Michelle Obama.

The ChiBarbie recently featured in Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast. It was during this conversation that the former First Lady heaped praise on Reese for her approach to everything, while addressing her impact on and off the court.

“You are handling yourself beautifully,” Obama said. “I mean it’s not just what you do but the way you carry yourself. I mean, it is really a joy to watch you manage it all, and you do it with a smile on your face with an excellent attitude.”

Being one of the hottest prospects of the W in the current era, there’s no second thought that Reese’s life has progressed pretty quickly in recent years. We’ve seen Reese grow from a young talent during her LSU days to grow into a franchise face, but many would forget in the process that ChiBarbie is still just 23 years old, quite a young age to be called a global star, right?

That’s not all, though, as her life isn’t just restricted to the basketball court. And Reese isn’t just trying to be a basketball player; she’s looking to transcend her impact beyond the sport as well. Fashion is one of her main domains outside the sport, where she headlined events like Victoria Runaway magazine. On top of that, she has also featured in the latest SI Swimsuit Magazine, raising her off-court ceiling even further.

Besides these, she has her podcasts and a signature shoe line with Reebok, which keeps her busy occasionally. Add to it her on-court endeavors, where her life is changing pretty fast as well. Coming into free agency, Reese saw her trade to Atlanta from the Chicago Sky, a franchise that deemed her the franchise player.

Of course, it opens up an array of opportunities for her on the professional front. But it also raises a concern about making the cultural shift from Chicago to Atlanta and blending well with a new team. But even in the face of this challenging time, Reese hasn’t been outspoken and has largely embraced the opportunities. And Michelle Obama’s assessment in the podcast just adds weight to the way she handles things despite being under the spotlight most of the time.

In her few years in the WNBA, Reese has already packed up stadiums and sold out games for Chicago. Her influence saw a major impact during her time in Chicago, culminating in her inclusion among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Chicago. And she carried the same level of impact upon her Atlanta Dream. Upon her arrival, Dream’s No. 5 jersey sold out within hours, adding weight to the aura and impact she carries.

This speaks immensely of the maturity she carries, even at 23, and the eternal personality she has. Of course, she has faced the fire of controversies as well. From time to time, Reese has been portrayed as a kind of villain in the media in relation to her eternal rival, Caitlin Clark. All of it stems from that “You can’t see me gesture” that ChiBarbie hit Clark with during their faceoff at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

On top of that, criticisms regarding her on-court performances have also been a recurring issue at times. The term ‘mebounds’ was specifically coined to portray her as a player who just rebounds on the court. There’s no shying away from the fact that her prowess on the boards is the main currency that she thrives upon.

But that’s not it for her game. She is a great scorer and defender, and at the end of the day, a two-time WNBA All-Star. Amid all the glory and spotlight, this unjustified hate against Reese has slipped in countless times in the media. But even then, Angel Reese hasn’t missed a beat and has gone about her business in the coolest way possible.

Reese herself explained her way of handling things in the podcast. “Every moment hasn’t been great, but I wouldn’t change this life for anything,” Reese said. “I have had some really good moments, and I don’t want bad moments to outshine the good moments. Because I know I’ve been able to bless my family and community, and to start a foundation I never thought of. Being able to just continue to thrive in basketball, have a sneaker and being able to do so many things. I try not to let the negative outshine the positive.”

While this mentality has brought her success over the years, she wants to cultivate a similar attitude in her future as well.

Angel Reese Isn’t Hesitant About the Background Noise as She Looks to Carve Out Her Future

One thing that has defined Angel Reese all these years is that she doesn’t take outside opinions. She does what she thinks is right for her, and neither media scrutiny nor public pressure makes her change. Sometimes people may associate it with her nature, but that’s who she is. And she isn’t looking to change it for others, even in her future endeavors.

“I have nothing to prove to prove to anybody but myself,” Reese said. “I just know I want to continue to do the things that I want to do and I am not going to let the outside control my own narrative of what I want to be and what I want to do.”

On an immediate occurrence, the spotlight will be on Angel Reese again in a couple of days. It will mark the first time that Reese walks in a WNBA game for the Atlanta Dream. Of course, the star-studded trade has its own part in the story as well. But it’s more about who she faces in the Atlanta Dream’s first preseason games. Yes, it’s her former team, the Chicago Sky.

Now, on the surface, it’s just a preseason game. And nothing much is on the line. But the camera will be heavily tilted towards Reese and how she approaches the game against her former team. It will be one of the few times when Reese will actually have to eliminate background noise around her in a high-pressure game. The game will tip off on April 29 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.