When Angel Reese is fit and firing, chances are the Chicago Sky are walking away with the win — no matter the opponent. That’s exactly what happened on Thursday, as the Bayou Barbie dropped 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Windy City franchise to a huge 91-85 victory against the defending champions, New York Liberty. Since coming back from her back injury, Reese has been in great form. She is averaging 20 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting an insane 68.2% from the field. According to Polymarket Hoops, she’s now tied as the fastest player in WNBA history to hit 300 rebounds in a season and ranks third in 20/10 games this year. And the wild part? She’s done all of this despite battling an injury that saw her miss 10 games. What’s behind this change and her dominant performances this year? Well, after the game, Reese, in typical Reese fashion, made a bold claim that tells you a lot.

After tonight’s game, Reese was asked about her Reebok deal, and she made it clear that her goal goes beyond just the court. The star forward, who recently announced her first signature shoe — the Angel Reese 1 — shared that her goal is to create real impact through the partnership, both on and off the court, and wants to emulate some of the all-time greats.

“I think it’s important I tell young girls — go where you’re wanted. Go where they’re going to maximize who you are. And go where you know they’ll stand on who you are. I’m unapologetically me, and I think that’s the brand that Reebok is. Just being able to do that, and knowing that AI and Shaq have my back — two great players who’ve done a lot of great things with Reebok. You see Reebok on Shaq and AI. So, when people look up, I want them to know that on the women’s side, that speaker for Reebok is Angel,” she said.

Angel has always been more than just a basketball star or a fashion icon. Everyone knows the effort she puts into empowering women. Through the Angel C. Reese Foundation, she’s creating opportunities for girls and women in sports, education, financial literacy, and beyond. And that’s just scratching the surface of her impact. Reese has been open about how online trolling has taken a toll on her mental health.

“I just try to stay strong… I’ve been attacked so many times. Death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened… All this has happened since I won the national championship and I haven’t been happy since then,” she shared last year. And while many know she trademarked the word Mebounds to clap back at the trolls, what most don’t know is that a portion of the income from the merch goes straight to her charity — helping fund programs that tackle cyberbullying.

When Angel Reese became one of the first athletes to sign with Reebok’s newly launched basketball division, led by her mentor, Shaquille O’Neal, it wasn’t just about the sneakers. A core part of the deal was Reebok’s commitment to supporting her foundation and its mission to uplift underrepresented communities.

And when it comes to Reebok, two names have always defined their presence in the basketball world — Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson. Shaq signed with the brand in 1992, right before his rookie season with the Orlando Magic, kickstarting one of the most iconic athlete-brand partnerships in history. That same year, he debuted his first signature shoe, the Shaq Attaq.

For anyone who grew up watching basketball in the late ’90s and early 2000s, Allen Iverson was a game-changer. And at the core of his legacy was his iconic partnership with Reebok. His lifelong deal with Reebok, signed during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, made him a cultural icon on and off the court. Today, he continues that legacy as the Vice President of Reebok Basketball, working hand in hand with Shaquille O’Neal to shape the brand’s future.

For Reese, having the support of two legends like Shaq and Iverson was always going to be beneficial. Both have cemented their legacies, and now they’re backing her journey. With the way she’s making an impact both on and off the court, it’s fair to say she’s on track to become the face of Reebok’s women’s division, which already features names like Lexie Brown, Justyn Knight, and Annie Thorisdottir. Even her coach has made a bold prediction about her future.

Tyler Marsh makes a bold Angel Reese prediction

Angel Reese has taken a major leap in her sophomore season, even while battling injuries. Her scoring has jumped from 13.6 points on 39.1% shooting to 14.4 on an efficient 45.6%. She’s also become a better playmaker. Her assists have gone from 1.9 to 3.7 per game, and her coach predicts more to come in the future!

“I mean, there’s so much more room for growth, but there’s so much progression that she’s already shown from year one to year two,” Tyler Marsh said in the post-game conference after beating the Liberty. “And so I think that what she’s able to do now, and what she’ll continue to be able to do in this league… she’s going to be one of the top players in this league for years to come.”

Well, we sure hope there’s more to come from Angel Reese in the future. This year, she’ll miss the postseason once again, but starting next season, the expectation will be different. Fans want to see her in that playoff battle consistently. That’s the stage where she can truly cement herself as one of the greats of this game.