Angel Reese isn\u2019t waiting for anyone to hand her wings. She\u2019s too busy earning them herself.<\/p>\n
Already one of the WNBA\u2019s brightest stars, the Chicago Sky forward steps into a unique spotlight on Wednesday when she becomes the first professional athlete to walk the runway at\u00a0 Victoria\u2019s Secret Fashion Show.<\/p>\n
\u201cStepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria\u2019s Secret ANGEL,\u201d Ms. Reese posted<\/a> on her Instagram account. \u201cI\u2019m finally getting my wings. I\u2019ll be walking the Victoria\u2019s Secret 2025 runway show for the first time, and it feels like destiny. Wings on, heels ready \u2026 Catch me on the runway.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking the runway of the annual promotional event that normally features models under contract to the company is the latest bold statement in Ms. Reese\u2019s rapidly expanding empire that stretches across basketball, fashion, and media.<\/p>\n Her evolution from college sensation to cultural force comes during one of the most chaotic and transformative periods in WNBA history. While much of the league is squabbling <\/a>over a new collective bargaining agreement and tensions over Commissioner Cathy Engelbert\u2019s leadership, Ms. Reese has parlayed her on-court success, looks and bold personality into one of the most diversified personal brands in women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n In addition to making history at Victoria\u2019s Secret Fashion Show, a partnership with Reebok led to the release of her first signature sneaker, the Angel Reese 1, which sold out within hours of launch on Sept. 18 confirming Ms. Reese as a marketing powerhouse.<\/p>\n She also unveiled a limited edition Juicy Couture collection of velour tracksuits and streetwear that blend athletic power and pop culture. Ms. Reese also continues to host her \u201cUnapologetically Angel\u201d podcast and serves as an ambassador for Amazon, pitching affordable lifestyle products.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a continuation of a strategy that began when she posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition in 2023 when she didn\u2019t think she\u2019d feel comfortable \u201cin thong bathing suits.\u201d Her confidence has soared since. \u201cI embrace my body and who I am,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Once primarily known as the chief nemesis of Indiana Fever guard and college foe Caitlin Clark, Ms. Reese is using her off-the-court endeavors to escape the shadow of her more celebrated counterpart.<\/p>\n Jeanine Ogbonnaya, one of Ms. Reese\u2019s agents, said <\/a>the goal is not only to create immediate income for Ms. Reese, but also \u201cbuild a brand for her that can withstand well past her playing days.\u201d<\/p>\n Basketball remains the hub of her success. Though the Sky missed the playoffs for the second straight year, she averaged 14.7 points, a league-high 12.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and made her second straight All-Star Game.<\/p>\n She also maintains a feistiness that isn\u2019t always appreciated by her teammates. Late in the season she publicly voiced her frustration with the Sky\u2019s front office telling the Chicago Tribune: \u201cWe have to get good players. We have to get great players. That\u2019s nonnegotiable for me,\u201d adding, \u201cI\u2019m not settling for the same s\u2014t we did this year. We can\u2019t settle for what we have this year.\u201d<\/p>\n She later apologized to her teammates, saying her comments were \u201ctaken out of context.\u201d The Sky suspended<\/a> her for one-half of a Sept. 7 game against the eventual WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, but her comments were in line with being \u201cUnapologetically Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently, Ms. Reese is too busy building her brand to compete in the second season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women\u2019s basketball league that debuted last season. Ms. Reese was one of the top attractions, averaging 13.3 points and 12.1 rebounds over 14 games to help the league co-founded by WNBA players Breanna Steward and Napheesa Collier gain traction and credibility. The inaugural year was successful enough to reach a $340 million valuation.<\/p>\n