Imagine if the Chicago Sky had Angel Reese fit all season. They probably still would not have made the playoffs, but they would have been in a better position by this time of the season. In just her second game back from injury, they beat the second-best team in the league, the New York Liberty, 91-85.

Reese made her mark in that pyrrhic victory with 21 points and 10 rebounds and would like to end the season on a high note. They face the Connecticut Sun next, who are in a similar position to the Sky. To provide her some luck, Reese is debuting a new colorway of her upcoming shoes, Angel Reese 1.

On Saturday afternoon, Reebok unveiled the fourth official colorway of the highly anticipated Angel Reese 1, the “Charm City” colorway. It features a bold purple upper with sharp black detailing and crisp white accents; the silhouette commands attention. While the colorway is a natural fit for Baltimore Ravens faithful, it ultimately speaks louder as a tribute to Reese’s remarkable journey.

“This one’s for Charm City, to honor my roots and the community of Baltimore that has backed me from day one,” said Reese. “This city gave me my grit and made me who I am today.”

The LSU alum grew up in Baltimore and played high school basketball at Saint Frances Academy there. As evidenced by multiple gestures like these from Reese, the city has played a crucial role in shaping her both as a person and an athlete. In addition to that, her younger brother Julian Reese plays for the University of Maryland, further strengthening her relationship with her roots. This show of support, combined with a different design, has grabbed fans’ attention.

WNBA Divided Over Angel Reese’s ‘Charm City’ Colorway

There have been three colorways for the Angel Reese 1 so far. The “Diamond Dust” is all-white with an iridescent finish, the “MeBounds” are all pink, and the “Receipts Ready” is black and white. However, when it came to the Charm City variant, they went for a bold choice with a purple shade and a different design. This choice is loved by some, while others, not so much.

“Listennnnn! I’m in love 🙌 I absolutely have to have these. They are the freakin’ one,” wrote one fan. This colorway drops in October, while the other three are slated for a September 18 release. So fans have a decision to make: do they love this design enough to wait another month? The other three look just as good, if not better. It’s all about preference. Or fans can go crazy and buy all four.

However, not every fan is on the same page. Another wrote, “These shits look cheap as f— lmao.” The design choice for this line is different than usual, paired with that color, which might not be preferable to everyone. The previous three colorways faced similar criticism, as some feel this design is not good enough for a benchmark athlete at Reebok. Another fan wrote, “Not gonna lie, they are ugly. I was expecting something nice.”

In addition to being ugly in some fans’ eyes, they are priced at $120. On the surface, that’s the same price as other WNBA players’ shoes, but Reebok’s reputation has dipped in recent years. While it’s on a revival path, brands like Nike and Adidas are still ahead. While some fans hated the design and color, others loved exactly that.

Another fan wrote, “Okay, I have to get these. Purple is my favorite color.” It’s all about preference. Some love the colorway; some don’t, but it’s an unpopular color for sure. Reebok and Reese are looking to differentiate themselves in their first big launch in years. With Shaquille O’Neal at the helm, the brand is all about getting people’s attention. Even when it came to the release, where did they choose? On the NBA 2K26 cover.  When standing out is the goal, some feathers are bound to be ruffled. But with Angel Reese, the fans always expect more, and she’s just getting started.