Reese attendedSt. Frances Academy inBaltimore, Maryland, where she was a four-yearvarsity basketball player under head coach Jerome Shelton.[3][15] Early in her career, she was teammates with future WNBA playerNia Clouden.[16][17] Due to her size and athleticism, she could play all five positions and entered the starting lineup midway through her first season.[18] As afreshman, Reese averaged 11.1points and 11rebounds per game, earning All-Metro first team honors fromThe Baltimore Sun.[19] She helped her team win theInterscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) A Conference title and finish the season with a30–1 record.[20] Her team suffered its only loss to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy at the High School Nationals semifinals, where Reese recorded 20 points and 24 rebounds and made aputback shot tobeat the buzzer and send the game toovertime.[21] She was named to the High School Nationals all-tournament team.[22]
In hersophomore season, Reese repeated as an All-Metro first team selection, helping St. Frances win the IAAM A Conference championship and achieve a 24–4 record. She averaged 17.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.1assists and 1.8blocks per game, leading her team in all four categories.[23][24] Following the season, Reese played in theCapital Classic and was named her team'smost valuable player after guiding the United States Future Stars to a 115–80 win over the Capital All-Stars.[25] She was suspended early in herjunior season after punching an opposing player in the face during a preseasonscrimmage; no charges were filed.[17][26] Reese averaged 22.6 points and 19.3 rebounds per game as a junior and was named All-Metro Player of the Year byThe Baltimore Sun after leading St. Frances to the IAAM A Conference title.[27] That year, she led Team Takeover to theNike EYBL championship, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 57–47 win over All Iowa Attack in the final.[28]
In January2020,Archbishop Spalding High School head coach Lisa Smith was fired from her position after herprivate messages onInstagram criticizing Reese's behavior were made public. Reese's mother felt that the messages included racial overtones by attributing Reese's success to being genetically gifted.[26] On January 31, Reese's number 10 jersey wasretired by St. Frances, and she became the first female player to receive the honor.[16] As asenior, she averaged 18.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 blocks per game, winning her fourth straight IAAM A Conference championship and helping her team finish with a 25–3 record.[29] Reese was selected to play at theMcDonald's All-American Game and theJordan Brand Classic, two major high school all-star games, but both were canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[29] She repeated as All-Metro Player of the Year and was also named High School Female Athlete of the Year byThe Baltimore Sun. Reese finished her career with 1,720 points, second in St. Frances history to Melba Chambers, and 1,250 rebounds.[18][29]
In addition to basketball, Reese was a member of thevolleyball team at St. Frances, playing theoutside hitter position.[30] In her freshman season, she helped the team win the IAAM C Conference championship, the school's first IAAM title in a sport other than basketball.[31] Reese led St. Frances to another IAAM C Conference title as a sophomore.[30]
Recruiting
Reese was considered a five-starrecruit, the number two player and the topwing in the 2020 class byESPN.[6][32] By her junior season of high school, she held scholarship offers from over 24NCAA Division I basketball programs, includingMaryland,South Carolina andLouisville.[33] On November 1, 2019, she announced her commitment to Maryland, becoming the highest-ranked recruit in program history. Her other finalists were South Carolina,USC,Syracuse andTennessee.[16][34] On November 13, Reese signed aNational Letter of Intent with the program.[35] She was drawn to Maryland because of its proximity to her home, head coachBrenda Frese, who had recruited her since eighth grade, and assistant coach Shay Robinson. She preferred to play with apost player inShakira Austin, who instead transferred from the program before Reese's first season.[34][36] She was also attracted to Maryland by its strong academics and thePhilip Merrill College of Journalism.[6]
College career
Freshman season
Reese entered her freshman season in the starting lineup for Maryland, primarily as apower forward.[37][38] Despite being a freshman, she was praised by head coach Brenda Frese for her leadership.[39] Frese viewed Reese as part of the team's Big Three that also includedAshley Owusu andDiamond Miller.[38] On November 27, 2020, she made her debut for Maryland, recording a season-high 20 points and nine rebounds in a 94–72 win overDavidson at the Gulf Coast Challenge.[40] In her fourth game, on December 3 againstTowson, she suffered aJones fracture in her right foot after landing awkwardly during the opening minutes.[41] She underwent surgery and was sidelined until February 23, 2021.[42][43] Reese came off the bench following her return from injury.[37] She helped Maryland winBig Ten regular season and tournament titles.[44] At the end of the regular season, she was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.[45] On March 24, 2021, in the second round of theNCAA tournament, Reese scored 19 points to help second-seeded Maryland defeat seventh-seededAlabama, 100–64.[46] In the Sweet 16, her team was upset by sixth-seededTexas, 64–61.[47] As a freshman, Reese averaged ten points and six rebounds per game. Following the season, she won a silver medal with the Maryland3x3 team at theUSA Basketball 3X Nationals.[48]
Reese returned to a starting role in her sophomore season.[49] She described the season as a "redemption year" and regained confidence from before her injury as a freshman.[50] In her season debut on November 9, Reese recorded 21 points and 14 rebounds in a 97–67 win againstLongwood.[51] On December 2, 2021, Reese had a season-high 26 points and 15 rebounds in an 82–74 win againstMiami (Florida) in theACC–Big Ten Challenge.[52] On February 14, 2022, she posted 25 points and 13 rebounds in an 81–69 victory overIowa.[53] Reese was named first-team All-Big Ten and made the conference's All-Defensive Team.[54] She led fourth-seeded Maryland to the Sweet 16 of the2022 NCAA tournament, where she recorded 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks in a 72–66 loss to first-seededStanford on March 25.[55] Reese received third-teamAll-American honors from the AP and made theUnited States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) andWomen's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American honorable mention.[56][57][58] As a sophomore, she averaged 17.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, becoming the first Maryland player to average adouble-double since Angie Scott in 1975.[59]
On April 5, 2022, Reese entered thetransfer portal with several of her teammates.[60] She later explained that she wanted a fresh start and a coach who would develop her into astretch four to prepare her for the WNBA.[36] She was the most heralded transfer in the nation and took visits toLouisiana State University (LSU),South Carolina andTennessee.[61][62] She took interest in LSU afterOhio State transfer Kateri Poole, whom she had known since high school, suggested that they visit the school together.[36]
Junior season
On May 6, 2022, LSU announced that Reese would transfer to their program.[63][64] She made the decision due to her trust in head coachKim Mulkey and a desire to join a "winning culture".[63] Reese was also impressed by the school's interest in the women's team.[36] On November 7, she made her debut for LSU, recording 31 points and 13 rebounds in a 125–50 win overBellarmine.[65] Reese posted 32 points and 15 rebounds in an 88–42 victory overLamar on December 14.[66] She surpassed LSU's single-game rebounding record, held byMaree Jackson since 1977, during a 26-point, 28-rebound performance in a 74–34 win overTexas A&M on January 5, 2023.[67] Reese had her 20th straight double-double on January 23, with 14 points and 14 rebounds in an 89–51 win againstAlabama. She broke the program record for consecutive double-doubles, set bySylvia Fowles during the 2006–07 season.[68] On February 16, Reese had a career-high 36 points and 20 rebounds in a 69–60 win overOle Miss.[69] She earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) and All-Defensive Team honors at the end of the regular season.[70] In the first round of the2023 NCAA tournament, she recorded 34 points and 15 rebounds in a 73–50 win againstHawaii.[71] Reese posted 25 points, 24 rebounds and 6 blocks in a 66–42 second-round win overMichigan.[72] In the Elite Eight, she registered her 32nd double-double, breaking the SEC single-season record held byTeaira McCowan ofMississippi State. Reese was named Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the Greenville Regional 2.[73][74] In the Final Four, she set the program and SEC single-season rebounding records after posting 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 79–72 win overVirginia Tech.[75]
Reese helped LSU win its first national championship, posting 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a 102–85 victory overIowa in thetitle game. She won the tournamentMost Outstanding Player award and set the NCAA single-season record with 34 double-doubles.[76] In the closing minutes of the game, Reese followed Iowa starCaitlin Clark around the court and made a "you can't see me" gesture by waving her hand in front of her face—a taunt popularized by professional wrestlerJohn Cena—before pointing to her ring finger in reference to achampionship ring. Her actions came under scrutiny, with some journalists and analysts criticizing her for poor sportsmanship and others, including Reese herself, pointing to adouble standard, because Clark had not received similar backlash for making the "you can't see me" gesture two games earlier.[77] Clark later defended Reese from criticism over the gesture.[78] The incident drew attention to the roles of race and gender in the perception oftrash talk in sports since Reese is Black and Clark is white.[79][80][81] It has also been described as the origin of arivalry between Reese and Clark.[82] Following the game,First LadyJill Biden remarked that she wanted Iowa to be invited to theWhite House along with LSU, as an addition to the custom of thepresident and first lady hosting the national champions. Despite Biden's press secretary clarifying that only LSU would be invited, Reese initially rejected the invitation and said she would prefer to celebrate with theObamas, before accepting it with her team later that week.[83][84] PresidentJoe Biden called Reese individually to congratulate her on LSU's victory.[85]
Reese was a unanimous first-team All-American: she earned first-team All-American honors from the AP and the USBWA, and made the WBCA Coaches' All-America Team.[86][87] As a junior, she averaged 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game, becoming the first women's player in over 15 seasons to reach those marks.[88] Reese led theNCAA Division I in total rebounds and offensive rebounds per game and ranked second to Lauren Gustin ofBYU in rebounds per game.[89] Her 240free throws made marked an SEC record, and she scored 830 points, the third-most in LSU history.[90] After the season, she won theBET Award for Sportswoman of the Year and theBest Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award.[91][92] She received the Corbett Award as the top female amateur athlete in Louisiana.[90]
Entering her senior season, Reese was named an AP preseason All-American and preseason SEC Player of the Year.[93][94] LSU was ranked number one by the AP in its preseasonpoll, with incoming transfersHailey Van Lith andAneesah Morrow.[95] On November 6, 2023, Reese recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds in her season debut, as her team suffered an upset loss to AP No. 20Colorado, 92–78.[96] On November 14, 2023, she had 11 points and five rebounds in a 109–79 win overKent State but was benched for the second half, which Mulkey described as a coach's decision and did not elaborate.[97] Reese did not play in LSU's next four games for undisclosed reasons.[98] Mulkey later attributed Reese's absence to locker room issues.[99] On November 30, Reese returned, posting 19 points and nine rebounds in an 82–64 win over AP No. 9Virginia Tech.[100] On December 19, she sharedSporting NewsAthlete of the Year honors with Caitlin Clark.[101] At the end of the regular season, Reese was namedSEC Player of the Year while earning first-team All-SEC and All-Defensive Team recognition from the league's coaches.[102] She led LSU to the Elite Eight of the2024 NCAA tournament, where she had 17 points and 20 rebounds in a 94–87 loss to one-seed Iowa in a rematch of the 2023 national championship game.[103]
For her second straight season, Reese was named a first-team All-American by the USBWA and a WBCA Coaches' All-American. She earned second-team All-American honors from the AP. Reese averaged 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game as a senior, ranking second to Lauren Gustin in rebounding among Division I players. During two years at LSU, she averaged 14.4 rebounds per game, the most in SEC history.[104] On April 3, 2024, Reese declared for the2024 WNBA draft, where she was projected to be a first-round pick.[105]
Reese was selected as the seventh overall pick in the2024 WNBA draft by theChicago Sky.[106] On May 15, 2024, she made her WNBA debut, posting 12 points and eight rebounds in an 87–79 loss to theDallas Wings.[107] On June 2, Reese was fined $1,000 for not making herself available to reporters after a loss to theIndiana Fever, in which her teammateChennedy Carter committed a hard foul onCaitlin Clark of the Fever.[108] On June 20, she had her seventh consecutivedouble-double, the longest such streak by a WNBA rookie, after posting 16 points and 18 rebounds in an 83–72 win over the Dallas Wings.[109] In her next game, three days later, Reese tallied 25 points and 16 rebounds in an 88–87 victory over the Indiana Fever.[110] On June 30, she registered her 10th straight double-double, with 10 points and 16 rebounds in a 70–62 loss to theMinnesota Lynx, surpassingCandace Parker of theLos Angeles Sparks for the longest single-season streak in WNBA history.[111]
Reese in 2024
Reese was named the league'sRookie of the Month in June, after averaging 14.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game.[112] On July 2, 2024, she was selected to play in theWNBA All-Star Game.[113] On July 7, Reese had her 13th consecutive double-double, with 17 points and 14 rebounds in an 84–71 loss to theSeattle Storm, and passed Parker for the longest streak across multiple seasons.[114] The streak ultimately extended to 15 games.[115] On July 9, she was awardedWNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.[116] Reese became the first rookie to have a double-double in a WNBA All-Star Game, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds in a 117–109 win over theUnited States national team.[117] On August 25, she grabbed at least 20 rebounds for a third straight game in a 77–75 loss to theLas Vegas Aces; no WNBA player had previously reached the mark in consecutive games.[118] On September 1, Reese broke the WNBA single-season rebounding record held bySylvia Fowles as part of a 17-point, 19-rebound effort in a 79–74 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.[119] Reese's rookie season ended on September 6, when she sustained ahairline fracture in her wrist during the Sky's game against the Los Angeles Sparks.[120] She finished the year averaging 13.6 points, a WNBA-record 13.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.[121]
Sophomore season
On May 27, 2025, Reese surpassedTina Charles as the fastest player to record 500 point and 500 rebounds, taking only 38 games to do so.[122]
Reese became the fastest forward and third fastest player in WNBA history to record atriple double in a 78–66 win against theConnecticut Sun, recording 11 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.[123][124]
On July 1, she was awarded WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week, having averaged 19.7 points, 17.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.[125] On July 6, Reese was again selected to play in theWNBA All-Star Game.[126]
Reese missed most of the second half of her sophomore season due to a back injury, appearing in 30 regular season games. She played her final game on September 3, posting 18 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals in an 88–64 win over the Sun, the Sky's largest victory of the season. Before the game, theChicago Tribune published an article in which Reese openly voiced her frustrations about the team's season.[127][128] In that game, Reese also received her eighth technical foul of the year, resulting in an automatic league suspension for the September 5 matchup against the Fever.[129] The Sky additionally handed Reese a half-game suspension for the September 7 game against the Aces for making "statements detrimental to the team" in her Tribune interview.[130] However, she did not play in that game at all due to her back issues,[131] and missed the remaining two games of the season as well.[132] She ended the season leading the league in rebounds per game for the second consecutive year, and averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Unrivaled
On July 24, 2024, it was announced that Reese would appear and play in the inaugural season ofUnrivaled, a new women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded byNapheesa Collier andBreanna Stewart.[133] She was selected forRose BC, debuting on January 17, 2025 as a starter, and scoring the first points in the team's history.[134] Her performance was praised, and she recorded a double-double.[134][135] In Rose's ninth game of the season, they defeated the only previously undefeated team, Lunar Owls. In this game, Reese became the first player in the league to achieve a 20–20 game, with 22 points and 21 rebounds.[136]
For the 2025 season, Reese was named to the All-Unrivaled Second Team, and was awarded Unrivaled's Defensive Player of the Year.[137][138] Rose won the first ever Unrivaled championship.[139]
Reese made her United States national team debut at the2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Mexico.[145] In her first game, she posted 11 points and 9 rebounds in an 80–54 win overVenezuela.[146] Reese recorded 13 points and 18 rebounds in a 68–49 victory overColombia in the quarterfinals.[147] She helped her team win the silver medal, posting four points and six rebounds in a 69–58 loss toBrazil in the final.[148]
Reese has a listed height of 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and primarily plays thesmall forward andpower forward positions.[149] She has described herself as a "bigguard", having played the position in her childhood, and can handle and pass the ball.[150] Reese has exceptional mobility for her size and is explosive to the basket.[50][151] She is an outstanding rebounder due to her athleticism, anticipation and tenacity, often scoring off putbacks.[150][151][152] On defense, her agility allows her to guardperimeter players, and her longwingspan helps her record steals and blocks at a high rate.[153][154] Early in her college career, Reese struggled with committing fouls, before showing improvement in her junior season.[151] Her shooting outside thepaint has been labeled as a weakness, and she rarely attemptsthree-pointers.[150][155] She has drawn comparisons toNneka Ogwumike andNaLyssa Smith.[156] She has modeled her game after NBA playersKevin Durant andBen Simmons, and WNBA players Candace Parker andA'ja Wilson.[157] Reese is known for her assertive personality andtrash talk.[158] Brenda Frese, her head coach at Maryland, compared Reese's competitiveness to her former player,Shatori Walker-Kimbrough.[159]
Reese's mother, Angel Reese (née Webb), played college basketball forUMBC, where she was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame and her number 10 jersey was retired.[5][161] She later played professionally in Luxembourg. Reese's father, Michael Reese, with whom she does not have a close relationship, played basketball forBoston College andLoyola (Maryland) before embarking on a professional career in Luxembourg, Cyprus, Austria and Portugal. Reese was raised by her mother and maternal grandparents, Curtis and Barbara Webb.[3][23] Her younger brother,Julian, played college basketball forMaryland and competed for St. Frances Academy.[162] Reese's stepbrother,Mikael Hopkins, is a professional basketball player.[23] Her cousin,Jordan Hawkins, plays in the NBA and helped theUConn Huskies men's team win the2023 NCAA championship.
Reese is represented byagent Jeanine Ogbonnaya of the Clearview Group, who has worked with her since Reese played for Maryland.[166][167] She is signed withThe Society Management for managing her fashion endeavors.[168] Reese was estimated to be one of the highest-earning college athletes fromname, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.[15] After her junior season, she surpassed $1 million in NIL valuation, leading all women's college basketball players, according to college sports website On3.[169] On October 17, 2023, she signed an endorsement deal withReebok; she was drawn to the company by its new president of basketball, Shaquille O'Neal, and was its first signing since O'Neal moved into the role.[170] Reese has also signed deals withAmazon,Bose,Coach,Discord,Outback Steakhouse,Sonic,TurboTax,Wingstop andXfinity, among other companies.[171] Due to her success with NIL, Reese was featured alongside LSU gymnast and leading NIL figureLivvy Dunne on the October 2023 cover of theSports Illustrated Money Issue, titled "Generation NIL".[172]
Reese has established a largesocial media following, which grew rapidly after her junior season in college.[174] She entered the 2023 NCAA tournament with 447,000Instagram followers and surpassed 1 million followers by the end of the tournament. In the following month, Reese reached 2 million followers on the platform.[175] By January 2025, she gained 4.6 million followers, making her the most followed player in the WNBA.[176]
Reese was nicknamed the "BayouBarbie" after transferring to LSU. The nickname refers to the location of the school, inBaton Rouge, Louisiana, and her appearance on the court, witheyelash extensions and long pink nails.[177] She credits a fan in Baton Rouge with creating the nickname, and she filed for atrademark on the "Bayou Barbie" in her first season at LSU but was denied.[178][166][179] With the Chicago Sky, she has been nicknamed the "Chi-Town Barbie" or the "Chi Barbie."[180]
In August 2024, Reese signed a sponsorship deal with theHershey's chocolate and candy brandReese's.[181] Her fans use the nickname Reese's Pieces. The sponsorship agreement includes an apparel collection.[181]
In September 2024, Reese started a podcast calledUnapologetically Angel on the Playmaker network.[182] New podcast episodes are released every Thursday.
In February 2025, Reese collaborated withMcDonald's on a special meal named after her that launched on February 10. TheAngel Reese Special consists of aquarter pounder with cheese, bacon, and barbecue sauce, as well as medium fries and a medium soft drink. Reese is the first female athlete that McDonald's has named a meal after.[183]
On July 09, Reese and Reebok debuted Reese's first signature basketball shoe, the "Angel Reese 1", which were released in September 2025.[184][185]
In September 2025, Reese joined the ownership group of Togethxr, along withSue Bird,Alex Morgan,Simone Manuel, andChloe Kim. Reese said the company is "about changing the way women in sports are seen and celebrated."[186][187]
Philanthropy
In July 2023, Reese announced the launch of the Angel C. Reese Foundation, which aims to empower girls through sports, education, and financial literacy.[188]
In August 2023, the Reese foundation hosted the "Back-to-School Giveback Block Party", to provide school supplies to students. Reese made a $12,000 donation to the Joan & Bert Hash Fund to cover tuition expenses for a member of the St. Frances Academy girls basketball team.[189][190]
In October 2024, the Reese foundation and digital wallet service,Cash App, announced a partnership to promote financial literacy, with Reese leading Cash App's “That's Money” campaign. The foundation also announced the renovation of a community basketball court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[191]
On May 6, 2025, the Foundation andMagic Johnson announced the Wealth Playbook partnership, aimed at improving financial literacy for youth.[192]
In popular culture
Reese at the Angel Reese Court inRandallstown, Maryland during its ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2023
Reese was portrayed by comedianPunkie Johnson on the April 8, 2023, episode ofSaturday Night Live. Johnson's skit parodied Reese's gesture at the end of the 2023 NCAA Division I championship game and her dispute over Jill Biden's comments about inviting Iowa to the White House.[193][194]
In 2023, Reese was included in theTime 100 Next list, which recognizes emerging leaders from around the world.[195] She was featured in the 2023 edition of theSports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue as part of the magazine's efforts to empower women.[196] In the same year, Reese appeared in theHarper's Bazaar Icons Issue, which highlights 14 people inspiring cultural change.[197] She was included in theForbes 30 Under 30 sports list for 2024.[198]
On July 17, 2023, the newly renovated basketball court at the Scotts Branch Recreation Activity Center in Reese's hometown of Randallstown, Maryland, was named the Angel Reese Court.[203] Later that week, she threw out thefirst pitch at aBaltimore Orioles game and was presented with thekey to the city of Baltimore from MayorBrandon Scott.[204][205]
Reese attended the annualMet Gala in New York City on May 6, 2024, and was one of several star athletes announced as a member of the 2025 Met Gala host committee.[206][207]
In January 2025, Reese featured as the cover star forVogue magazine's winter issue, profiling the convergence of sports and fashion in her career.[208]
In July 2025, Reese was named the co-cover athlete for theLeave No Doubt edition (alongsideShai Gilgeous-Alexander andCarmelo Anthony), and solo cover athlete for the WNBA edition ofNBA 2K26, a popularvideo game, making Reese the second WNBA player after A'ja Wilson to be featured on a cover of a global edition of the game.[209][184]
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