In the WNBA circuit where Caitlin Clark’s player brand resonates most, her contemporary, Angel Reese, has also quietly carved out her own lane. Be it headlining red carpet events or getting a signature Reebok shoe at 23, the Chi Barbie has always stepped up her game. But while her on-court game is clear, what is the one off-court factor a national analyst says is key to her meteoric rise?

On the ‘No Offseason’ podcast, analyst Zena Keita noted that Reese has built a sustainable brand by consistently speaking out on key issues like player compensation, cyberbullying, and racism.

“She positions herself incredibly well, whether at these tentpole events, whether it’s conversations online,” Keita said. “She finds a way to speak and to be seen in a way that it’s not overwhelming, like it’s not too much, because it’s not so much in one particular space, and she spaces herself pretty well. But not only do we not see a lot of people lean into haters, we definitely don’t see that on the women’s side.”

Reese has always played fire with fire throughout her time in the spotlight, either with strong, fiery replies to her trolls and hecklers or by turning a phrase coined to demean her into a clothing line. The term mebounds was often associated with Reese after she transitioned to the WNBA. It quietly denotes that she rebounds her own missed shots, significantly undermining her prowess on the boards.

To counter it, Reese started a clothing line with the same name and also trademarked it to stand up to cyberbullying, a great business idea, but also a striking reply to the haters. However, her feisty nature comes naturally to her. We’ve seen it at the 2023 NCAA Championship game, too, when she gestured to CC.

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“Like Angel, as you told the story, you talk a little bit about the moment that had her boom in the game against Caitlin Clark during the March Madness, the “You can’t see me” gesture towards Caitlin as they went on to beat Iowa, and then went on to win the National Championship. There’s something about leaning into being the villain that Reese does pretty well on top of being a hero. We don’t see that balance often.”

Angel Reese’s brand has grown exponentially, translating directly into tangible influence. Her inclusion on Chicago’s ‘Most Influential’ list isn’t just a title; it reflects her power to fill stadiums for the Sky, boosting the team’s revenue and cementing her status as a cornerstone of the franchise.

With time and growing interest from prominent brands such as Amazon, Hershey’s, and Hollywood, the two-time WNBA Rebounding leader’s prowess and brand value will grow even further. However, for now, the Chicago Star continues her on-court exploits in Miami.

Angel Reese Continues Her Stride With Rose BC at the Unrivaled

Reese’s return to the 3-on-3 league a couple of weeks back took the world by storm, after she initially decided to forego the tournament. However, amid all uncertainties, the Chi Barbie returned last week for Rose BC, a team she helped lead to glory last year. The team wasn’t in a perfect spot, but it was still in playoff contention, and with Reese, their ceiling just changed.

With a win over No. 2 Laces BC, Reese’s team has clinched a playoff spot. The Chicago Sky forward continued her impressive form after returning with 12 points last week against Hive BC.

In the Laces BC game, Reese recorded 9 points in 17 minutes, with 4-for-9 from the field and 15 boards. She complemented veteran Chelsea Gray perfectly, who led the team with 38 points in the game, as the team won 70-66.

Following the victory, Reese spilled the beans on how her return to the 3-on-3 league unfolded. “Literally, I was in Australia, and they were like, ‘You want to come back?’. I was like, ‘Alright.’ Literally, I was on the beach last week, and now I’m here.”

Angel Reese’s team has one game left in the regular season against Phantom BC on February 26. As she looks ahead to the playoffs and a marquee team-up with rivals-turned-teammates Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers for Team USA, Reese’s platform is only set to expand, proving that her influence, both on and off the court, is far from its peak.