Nearly a year ago, Angel Reese and Reebok agreed to a multiyear endorsement extension that gave way to her own signature shoe. Angel Reese 1 was supposed to come out in 2026, but both sides decided not to wait. Reebok, eager for a resurgence, and Reese, fresh off another All-Star season, were “growing together everyday and (their) visions were aligned”. On September 18, the Angel Reese 1 finally dropped worldwide in three colorways and disappeared from shelves almost instantly.

For Reese, the sneaker wasn’t just a part of the merch most athletes have. “It’s my style, my story, and my stamp on the game,” she said when the launch date was announced. And when the mass sell out actually happened, she jumped on X to let her emotions spill out: “I’m in full tears right now🥺 Taking a leap of faith and launching three of my signature shoes at once was a huge risk—but guess what? They all sold out! I’m sooooo THANKFUL & beyond GRATEFUL and just want to thank everyone for the amazing support,” she wrote.

And then came the declaration: “REEBOK IS BACK! 🤍👟” Those three words weren’t just empty hype, but also a signal to Nike and Adidas that the WNBA footwear game has a new heavyweight.  In the ’90s and early 2000s, the company ran basketball with Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson headlining its roster. When Adidas bought Reebok in 2006, the brand faded. But everything flipped in 2022 when Authentic Brands Group took over. Shaq and AI moved into leadership roles, president and vice president of basketball, and started steering Reebok back to its performance roots. The release of the Angel Reese 1 became one of the clearest sign yet of that return. 

 This time, the company wanted to do things differently— starting with centering its comeback on a woman’s signature shoe, something almost no major American sportswear company had done. Reese first signed with Reebok in October 2023 during her senior year at LSU, becoming the brand’s first major NIL signing under its new leadership. Reese’s signature apparel collection will also feature graphic tees, tanks, sweatshirts, and  growing Team RBK.B roster. But until then:

“The Angel Reese 1 marks the next chapter for Reebok Basketball, where performance meets personal style and bold design leads the way,” said Todd Krinsky, CEO and President at Reebok. “This shoe captures Angel’s unique mix of elegance and strength, with sculpted details, sharp lines, and a signature logo that reflects her presence on and off the court. Every element– from the molded overlays to the heritage-inspired traction– was made to celebrate Angel and how she is redefining what it means to be an athlete.” 

Priced at $120, the Angel Reese 1 sold out within minutes on Reebok’s website, with limited stock still at retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods.  Designed in full collaboration with Reese, the shoe blends Reebok’s hoops heritage with her style influence. Its design draws from the Mobius line, evolving the Exoskeleton Upper into a wing-shaped, angelic finish, with color palettes and materials tied to Reese’s legacy. The first drop featured  Diamond Dust, Mebounds, and Receipts Ready. 

Between these three colorways, MeBounds standing out as a nickname critics once used to mock Reese for grabbing her own rebounds. Now, rather than shy away, Reese trademarked the term to control its use and flip it into a revenue stream. She said, “Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing… y’all ate that up cuz rebounds, mebounds, crebounds, keybounds, tebounds… anything that comes off that board… ITS MINE.”

With this, Reese joins Caitlin Clark (Nike), Breanna Stewart (Puma), A’ja Wilson (Nike), Sabrina Ionescu (Nike), and Sydney Colson (New Balance) as one of only six active WNBA players with a signature shoe deal. 

Beyond those six, Reebok’s broader roster includes DiJonai Carrington (WNBA), Matas Buzelis, Dink Pate, Darius Acuff Jr., and Nate Ament, athletes signed under endorsement and development deals rather than signature lines. All told, it positions the brand to compete directly with Nike and Adidas in the women’s basketball space.