Criticism follows athletes like a shadow, especially in today’s social media era. One off night, one bad stat line, and the internet is ready to pounce. Just ask Angel Reese. She’s been under that spotlight more times than she can probably count. Remember the “mebounds” saga? That was just one of the many storms she’s had to weather. But criticism has never silenced the Bayou Barbie. If anything, it’s fueled her…especially when it comes to speaking openly about mental health. And she’s just given fans another reason to respect that.

After missing the final stretch of the WNBA season due to a lingering back injury, Angel Reese returned to professional basketball with Unrivaled, and she had a heartfelt message waiting for her Rose BC teammates.

“I think we live in a chaotic world that we don’t sit with ourselves and know that we really matter. I mean, we deal with a lot of mental health challenges as athletes, so I just want everybody to know I’m happy that we were able to come back together another day—not take it for granted,” Angel Reese said to her teammates during practice. “I know basketball is what we do, it’s our job, but when we come in here as a small group, knowing what we all go through in our world, I’m just happy and grateful that I’m able to see you guys every single day and just know that you matter.”

We’ve said it time and again: when it comes to advocating for mental health, there’s no one quite like Reese. She’s faced intense criticism from fans dating back to the historic 2023 NCAA national championship game, when LSU beat Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in front of more than 10 million viewers. That night, Reese went viral for taunting Clark by mimicking John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” gesture and pointing to her ring finger.

Then there was criticism over her struggles to consistently finish at the rim and for grabbing her own misses, which critics dubbed “mebounds.”But she didn’t just respond with words. Reese improved her shooting to a career-high 45.8% last season and even took it a step further by trademarking the popular phrase.

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She even dropped a trademark sassy TikTok, playfully embracing the noise and proving she wasn’t bothered. “Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing, y’all ate that up. Because mebounds, crebounds, keybounds, tebounds—anything that comes off the board, it’s mine. Whoever started that trolling, I love when y’all do it, because the ideas be good,” she joked.

Instead of letting the joke define her, Reese launched a full merchandise line built around the now-iconic phrase. The collection featured everything from T-shirts and sweatshirts to hats and slides, priced between $28 and $75 and available in both youth and adult sizes. What once started as mockery was now part of her growing off-court empire.

What many don’t know is that this wasn’t just a business move. A portion of the merchandise proceeds supports the Angel C. Reese Foundation. The funds will help the charity fight cyberbullying, raise awareness, and create safer online spaces for the next generation. That’s what real mental health advocacy looks like.

Returning to Unrivaled, the Bayou Barbie made it clear how thankful she is to be reunited with her teammates. That bond has been Rose BC’s foundation since Season 1, with management successfully keeping most of its championship core intact. But Reese also managed to highlight the issues these athletes face on a daily basis.

Between fan-stalking incidents, financial pressures in a rising economy, and lingering uncertainty about the league’s future amid ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations, these athletes deal with far more than game-day stress. That’s why having each other’s backs isn’t just support…it’s a necessity.

And at Rose BC, there’s only one thing on these players’ minds: winning together.

Angel Reese: A much-needed boost for Rose BC

Angel Reese’s arrival has definitely been a major boost for Rose BC as they chase back-to-back titles. Last season, the team started 1–4, yet they still went on to win the championship, with Reese earning Defensive Player of the Tournament honors. This year, she’s back to help a squad currently sitting fifth in the standings, and her impact has been immediate.

In only 28.5 minutes of play this Unrivaled season, Reese has already racked up 22 points and 23 rebounds. She may well have led Rose BC to wins in both outings if a disputed call hadn’t wiped out what appeared to be a clean steal on Sonia Citron in her return. Regardless, the Bayou Barbie has already helped shift momentum

With their latest win over Laces BC, Rose BC have punched their ticket to the playoffs, a testament to the impact the Chicago star has had on the squad. At the end of the day, if they play for each other the way they did last season — when they bounced back from a 1–4 start — there may be no stopping them from going back-to-back.

Do you see that happening? Let us know in the comments down below!