{"id":3196,"date":"2025-07-20T13:12:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T13:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/?p=3196"},"modified":"2025-10-10T16:13:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T16:13:20","slug":"the-rise-of-angel-reese-as-a-branding-powerhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/20\/the-rise-of-angel-reese-as-a-branding-powerhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Angel Reese as a Branding Powerhouse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Angel Reese is an athlete who sparks controversy for no other reason than being unapologetically herself\u2014on and off the court. While fans react to Reese with mixed emotions, she should be respected for how strategically she\u2019s built a platform designed to last well beyond basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From her iconic&nbsp;<em>NBA 2K26<\/em>&nbsp;cover and signature Reebok sneaker to landing features in&nbsp;<em>Vogue<\/em>&nbsp;and launching a McDonald\u2019s meal, Reese is proving she\u2019s not only a star athlete, she\u2019s a master brand architect.<br><br><strong>NIL<\/strong>: <strong>Just the Beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before turning pro, Reese was already a force in the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) space. She secured 17+ brand deals in college with major brands such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Amazon, PlayStation, Beats by Dre, Reese\u2019s, JanSport, Outback, Xfinity, and more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reebok, where she signed a historic NIL deal under Shaquille O&#8217;Neal\u2019s leadership\u2014setting up her current shoe empire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cash App, Goldman Sachs, and TurboTax\u2014amplifying causes like Black economic empowerment and financial literacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><br>By the time she entered the WNBA, her brand value was estimated at over&nbsp;<strong>$1.8 million<\/strong>, making her one of the top-earning college athletes in the country. But NIL wasn\u2019t the peak, it was the foundation that spearheaded her branding approach as a professional athlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I asked Angel Reese what advice she has for young athletes on flipping the narrative and building a brand: \u201cBe unapologetically yourself.\u201d<br><br>\u201cYou can\u2019t knock me off my pedestal. Brands are going to come if you like it or not. The hate, the love\u2026 it pays\u2014and you can see that.\u201d\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FzMKxuHQFm\">pic.twitter.com\/FzMKxuHQFm<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaritaCParks\/status\/1952023505433727411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 3, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Double Drop: 2K Cover &amp; Signature Sneaker Unveiling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In early July, the NBA announced Reese as the cover athlete for&nbsp;<em>NBA 2K26\u2019s<\/em>&nbsp;WNBA Edition. But that wasn\u2019t the only debut, the moment also unveiled her first signature shoe, the&nbsp;Angel Reese 1 by Reebok, in the icy&nbsp;\u201cDiamond Dust\u201d&nbsp;colorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It marked a historic first: a WNBA player launching a signature sneaker on the cover of one of the world\u2019s most popular sports video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Angel Reese is not just the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NBA2K26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NBA2K26<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WNBA<\/a> cover athlete\u2014she\u2019s debuting her first signature Reebok shoe on the cover. The Angel Reese 1 drops soon &#x1f45f;&#x1f525; <br><br>&#x1f4f8; Mystics vs. Sky <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TUbMCkhQ0m\">pic.twitter.com\/TUbMCkhQ0m<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Double Take Sports (@dbltakesports) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dbltakesports\/status\/1942960581020921925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 9, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMebounds\u201d Shoe Reveal at WNBA All-Star Weekend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Days later, during&nbsp;WNBA All-Star Weekend, Reese introduced fans to her latest flex: the&nbsp;\u201cMebounds\u201d&nbsp;colorway of the Angel Reese 1. She also wore them, on her terms, while suiting up for her second WNBA All-Star appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bright pink, bold, and rooted in a viral clapback turned trademark, the shoe sent a clear message: Reese doesn\u2019t just play the game, she flips the narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Literally MINE. Not yours (yet) &#x1f609; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pKCL4LKgYM\">https:\/\/t.co\/pKCL4LKgYM<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Reese10Angel\/status\/1946580664720969777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 19, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Meal with Major Meaning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In February, Reese made moves again when McDonald\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/mcdonalds-launches-historic-angel-reese-special-meal\/\" title=\"\">announced the&nbsp;Angel Reese Special<\/a>, making her the&nbsp;first female basketball player&nbsp;to land a signature meal. The meal featured a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese, new Bold BBQ Sauce, fries, and a drink. Her branding prowess was leveraged by McDonald&#8217;s based on how they pitched the new sauce: &#8220;as bold as Bayou Barbie herself.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By becoming the first female basketball player with a McDonald\u2019s meal, Reese joined a rare club, alongside celebrities like&nbsp;Travis Scott&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cardi B, proving her influence reaches far beyond sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Vogue Cover Moment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though Reese is often seen in sneakers and a Chicago Sky uniform, she easily transitions into fashion icon status, showcased through her tunnel fits and red carpet glam. That\u2019s why it was only fitting when she became the&nbsp;first professional basketball player, male or female, to grace a solo&nbsp;<em>American Vogue<\/em>&nbsp;cover&nbsp;in the Winter 2025 issue. The issue featured other cultural powerhouses, signaling her arrival as a legitimate force in fashion and media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">COVERGIRL. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/voguemagazine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@voguemagazine<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/33camXwhtl\">pic.twitter.com\/33camXwhtl<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Reese10Angel\/status\/1877018778065662145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 8, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>This was yet another moment where Reese turned criticism into marketing gold\u2014tweeting:<br><em>\u201cthey said \u2018she need to cover up\u2019 so I went cover on VOGUE.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to landing the cover, she also used the&nbsp;<em>Vogue<\/em>&nbsp;platform to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vogue.com\/article\/angel-reese-is-taking-her-talents-to-the-wnba\" title=\"\">announce her decision to declare for the&nbsp;2024 WNBA Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">From this Vogue exclusive to the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BayouBarbieOut?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BayouBarbieOut<\/a> video\u2026the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PR<\/a> side of me is loving how Angel Reese and her team are rolling out the news that she is declaring for the WNBA draft. Definitely a thoughtful &amp; planned announcement campaign &#x1f44f;&#x1f3fe; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fhux0PKZ21\">https:\/\/t.co\/fhux0PKZ21<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaritaCParks\/status\/1775606421716979863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 3, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Taking the Mic:&nbsp;<em>Unapologetically Angel<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a media landscape that often diminishes women athletes, Reese carved out her own lane. With the launch of her podcast&nbsp;<em>Unapologetically Angel<\/em>&nbsp;in 2024, she gave herself, and others like her, a direct line to the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reese even used the platform to reveal she had paid off her mother\u2019s mortgage, turning a personal milestone into public inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No filter. No spin. Just truth, humor, and insight. The podcast showcases Reese\u2019s natural charisma and leadership, but more importantly, it cements her role as both a storyteller and creator. She\u2019s not letting the narrative unfold around her, she\u2019s authoring it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final Take on Angel Reese\u2019s Brand Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From a sports and PR perspective, Reese is doing what many professionals never manage to pull off:&nbsp;total brand alignment\u2014anchored by authenticity, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, and cross-industry appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Angel Reese is more than a name on a jersey, she\u2019s a case study in 21st-century athlete branding, especially for young women. Her impact spans the hardwood, high fashion, fast food, financial empowerment, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While many still tie her name to controversy, she\u2019s providing the blueprint for how to build a brand that\u2019s made to last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Last week, I wrote about how Angel Reese is giving a masterclass in athlete branding. This week, I asked the source.<br><br>Hear directly from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Reese10Angel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Reese10Angel<\/a> on how she\u2019s been intentional about building her brand\u2014and the advice she has for young athletes looking to own their narrative.\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Z6IurxUMsW\">https:\/\/t.co\/Z6IurxUMsW<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0ZnHWIH7Me\">pic.twitter.com\/0ZnHWIH7Me<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Carita Parks (@CaritaCParks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CaritaCParks\/status\/1950583451729482150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Angel Reese isn\u2019t just dominating on the court, she\u2019s building a brand empire. From Vogue to Reebok to McDonald\u2019s, here\u2019s how she\u2019s changing the game off the court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[176,29,177],"class_list":["post-3196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wnba","tag-angel-reese-1","tag-features","tag-mebounds"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Angel-Reese-scaled-e1752970014841.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3196"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3304,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3196\/revisions\/3304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbltakesports.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}