Angel Reese Debuts New Nickname Ahead Of WNBA Season!
By Melanie VanDerveer on April 19, 2024 at 5:30 PM EDT
The 'Bayou Barbie' is moving from Louisiana to Chicago!
Angel Reese, the LSU basketball star who was drafted to the WNBA's Chicago Sky earlier this week, shared her new nickname in a recent TikTok video.
Angel Reese Has A New Nickname!
In a recently shared TikTok video, Reese reveals her new nickname as she joins the Chicago Sky for her first season in the WNBA.
"Hey y'all, so it's the 'Chi Barbie' here," she said.
"I'm still gonna be the 'Bayou Barbie' but I'm going to Chicago now, so they basically already been inheriting me into Chicago, so many people have reached out to me. The love of Chicago is running deep and going crazy, so I'm the 'Chi Barbie,' I'm the 'Baltimore Barbie,' and I'm always gonna be the 'Bayou Barbie.'"
She then asked her followers to comment the best places to go for hair, nails, lashes, waxes, facials, and estheticians.
"I need consistency. I need a full-time hair stylist, nail tech, lashes," she said. "Chi-town, I'll see y'all soon!"
Angel Reese's Followers Shared Positive Comments As She Gets Ready For WNBA Season
Reese's video quickly received more than 900,000 views and thousands of comments.
"Make no mistake, you are the sole reason why I and others are watching women's basketball!!! There's a difference between a Goddess and a Queen. My dear, you are a true basketball Goddess," one fan wrote.
Another person shared, "Wishing you much success in Chi-town!!! I've never seen or been to a WNBA game. I'm planning on attending a game."
Many fans shared comments welcoming Reese to Chicago, and others shared their recommendations on where she should go for her hair, nails, and lashes.
Angel Reese Is Ready For The 'Next Chapter'
Reese shared a video on Instagram announcing that she's gearing up for a new chapter after four years in college. First, she thanked her family, mom, Baltimore, LSU, teammates, coaches, managers, trainers, and God.
"All of this is because of you. Thank you for loving me and supporting me in everything I do," she said. "For standing by me at my lowest, for making every second of the last four years a dream come true."
She said she's leaving college with "everything" she wanted - a degree, national championship, and this platform "she could never imagine."
"This was a difficult decision, but I trust the next chapter because I know the author," she said. "'Bayou Barbie' out."
Barbie's Instagram account dropped into the comments to say, "Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it."
Former WNBA star Lisa Leslie commented, "Awesome!!!! Congratulations on all your success! The hard work, sweat and tears! I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for you next! Continued blessings."
NFL star Odell Beckham, Jr. wrote, "YOU DID THAT!!!!!! Forever legendary."
Shaquille O'Neal Revealed The First Thing He Said To Angel Reese After She Was Drafted
Retired NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal recently opened up about his bond with Reese and what he told her after the Chicago Sky drafted her.
"I am described as Angel's understandable ear," O'Neal told PEOPLE. "I know things that she went through, I know what she's going through, I know what's about to happen to her and I could give her advice."
O'Neal has become a mentor to Reese and shares his expertise from being in the NBA for 19 years, not only because O'Neal is also a former LSU Tiger, but also because he has children around her age.
"She's the same age as my children, so I only want the best for her," he said. "And when you have daughters, you know to use that calm voice." He added that the first thing he said to her after she was drafted was that he is "proud of her."
'We Do It Our Way'
O'Neal has described Reese's game as similar to his because "we do it our way" and "we're unapologetic about it."
"She plays with a certain passion - and a lot of times, you can't really understand that until you understand where a person comes from," O'Neal explained.
Reese is from Baltimore, Maryland, and O'Neal explained that it's "one of the toughest places in the world."
"She had to be tough. She is tough and she applies that on the court. Some people don't like that and it's understandable, but she's not apologetic about it," he continued.
"I don't want her to apologize. I want her to stay beautiful, stay classy, and continue to make a name for herself and taking care of her family."