Angel Reese may have entered her sophomore year in the WNBA, but the criticism feels all too familiar, just like it was during the 2023 National Championship game versus Iowa. This time, though, it’s a little different. Critics are now targeting the Chi-Town Barbie’s habit of rebounding her own missed layups. Thanks to Brandon “Bishop B Hen” Hendricks, she’s even earned a new nickname: “Mebounds.” But Reese isn’t your typical star; she’s not letting the criticism cast a negative light on her. Instead, she’s taken matters into her own hands!

While most players might choose to stay off social media when the hate rolls in, Angel Reese turned the noise into a marketing goldmine. It all started with a playful TikTok where she addressed the viral nickname head-on: “Because mebounds, crebounds, keybounds, tebounds… anything that comes off the board, it’s mine,” she said, owning the term with confidence. But that wasn’t her only move. Just days later, she dropped her first career triple-double, becoming the youngest WNBA player after Caitlin Clark to reach the milestone. A historic feat in itself, it sent a clear message to her doubters – but Reese wasn’t done yet.

She embraced the term “Mebounds” and decided to own it – literally. Reese filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office under the goods and services category. Just six days later, she launched a new merch line on X featuring the tagline: “MEBOUNDS. REESEBOUNDS. REBOUNDS…” And yes, it was intentional, not just to take control of the narrative but to give back.

Well, the national analyst Rachael DeAmita summed it up best: “But Angel Reese, kudos to her. Like, checkmate. This was such a brilliant idea to trademark the term ‘Mebounds.’ I love this. This is just because we’re finally getting the sense of humor back into sports. Like, not everything needs to be taken so seriously.” And she’s right, especially considering that her potential is undeniable. But, it’s not just the approach to handle criticism that has changed, but the comment section has changed too!

Fans applaud Angel Reese’s marketing move!

As Angel Reese’s product line dropped, spectators couldn’t help but follow tradition and dive into the comment section. “Angel, this is SO out of control (super-excitedly complimentary)! 😍” wrote one fan. It seems like people are genuinely proud of how Reese handled the controversy this time around. That’s because the last time she got caught up in heated debates, she deactivated her Instagram account during the offseason. But that version of Reese is long gone. Now, she’s embracing her “savage” era, giving her critics even more to talk about while stacking her money.

“Back again because THIS is it, Angel! Perfection,” penned another user. And it’s not just about the style, it’s about the impact. A portion of the proceeds from her new merch will go toward the Angel C. Reese Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting cyberbullying. So, in a poetic twist, Reese is using bullies to fight bullies. Iconic, right? She’s not just monetizing the moment; she’s reclaiming it.

“Marketing,” wrote another user, and they hit the nail on the head. What makes this move even more powerful is that with her trademark in place, no one else can profit off her name without permission. That includes TikTok creators like “Stat Stuffer,” who had already started selling unauthorized “Mebounds” shirts. So now, she’s the one earning for all the headaches she has to go through on a daily basis – and no one else can.

But, to be honest, it’s just another level-up for the Chi-Town Barbie. Ever since the 2023 National Champioship, she’s faced constant criticism – first for the “you can’t see me” gesture, then for every matchup against Caitlin Clark. Even after both stars transitioned to the WNBA, the hate never really died down, year one or year two.

If you need proof, just revisit the Indiana Fever’s season opener. Reese ended up with a Flagrant 1 and a flood of online criticism, sparking an official WNBA investigation into cyberbullying. So it makes sense why one user shared, “She got cyberbullied too much.” Although the investigation said they did not find anything “substantiating”, the comments speak volumes. Scroll under any of Reese’s posts and you’ll find a queue of hate-filled replies. So yeah, it hasn’t been easy for her. But if you think this is the first time she’s clapped back at critics, well, it’s not!

“Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!!!! If it comes off that board… IT’S MINE… MEBOUNDS!!!” cheered another user, echoing what Reese herself said recently. That energy is what defines Angel Reese. Just consider that she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 career points and rebounds just a couple of games ago. For a young player, her numbers are nearly unheard of as she currently boasts of more career rebounds (532) than points (526) – a stat typically seen in seasoned vets like Bismack Biyombo. But what makes her journey even more compelling is her willingness to grow. She’s never run from her weaknesses, only through them.

Even last season, she openly called her layup finishing “the worst you’ll ever see me,” after converting just 42% at the rim. And she didn’t stop there. She sought out mentorship, joining the Unrivaled league and working with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie to sharpen her skills. And while she’s not 100% there yet, based on her recent performances, it’s no exaggeration to say she’s getting close.

As for her so-called “mebounds”, grabbing offensive rebounds off her own misses – it’s always been a part of basketball. Even NBA stars like Nikola Jokic do it. The difference? They don’t face the same level of criticism WNBA players do. So, this is why Reese took it all into her own hands and proved every hater wrong in her own unique way!