Angel Reese is the second WNBA star to have her shoe with Reebok, but she wasn’t convinced the company could handle a superstar like herself at the beginning of her career. While speaking with Michelle Obama on her “IMO” podcast, Reese revealed how her mentor, Shaquille O’Neal, persuaded her to sign a massive sneaker deal with the brand during her time in college.
Angel Reese Was Against Signing With Reebok At The Begining Of Her Career
On the latest episode of “IMO” with Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, Reese got candid about her relationship with Los Angeles Lakers alum O’Neal, who is now the president of Reebok basketball.
During the episode, Reese revealed that she began speaking with O’Neal about signing an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with Reebok before she won the NCAA championship in 2023. However, the former Chicago Sky player admitted she wasn’t interested in working with any shoe company at the time.
After defeating Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes during March Madness, everything shifted for Reese. “All the different shoe brands started reaching out,” she said, but Reebok made a promising offer she couldn’t pass up.
“I want to go where I’m prioritized, and to be prioritized as a Black woman, and helping a brand come back and regenerate where it was, that was really important to me,” she said. “They didn’t have a woman who was the face of their brand, and Shaq told me, ‘You could be the face of Reebok.'”
Angel Reese Previously Detailed Her Decision To Sign With Reebok During Her Time At LSU
Indeed, Reese is the face of Reebok basketball. According to a previous report from The Blast, the 6’3″ basketball player launched her first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1, with the company in September 2025. Since then, she’s released a range of colorways, all designed with a specific meaning.
In addition to shoes, Reese launched a clothing line with the company, including compression wear, shirts, and bottoms. In the past, the outspoken athlete said that was another reason she signed on with the company.
“So I had a conversation with Reebok when I signed about having a signature shoe, and I wanted to have creative control,” Reese said. “I am obviously into basketball, but I’m also into fashion, so I wanted something versatile that you can wear on and off the court.”
Angel Reese Designed A Shoe To Tell Her Story
The Angel Reese 1 comes equipped with impressive technology for the sport’s most versatile players, according to The Blast. Adding to the exoskeleton upper, the AR1 features a TPU stability cup and the company’s signature ERS (Energy Return System) to provide the right amount of cushion on the hardwood.
Reese said the release of her first signature sneaker carried more meaning than some realized. “… it’s my style, my story, and my stamp on the game,” she said.
“Reebok and I built something that’s true to who I am, and I hope it pushed others to stand in their power, too,” she added. “At the end of the day, it’s built for basketball — made to move and perform at the highest level.”
Which Celebrities Have Been Spotted Wearing Reese’s Signature Shoe?
Reese’s signature shoe flew off the shelves within hours of its launch, ultimately proving that the 23-year-old moves the needle in ways some said she couldn’t.
In fact, Reese’s impact is so major that celebrities, from Wale to NBA star Stephen Curry, have been spotted wearing a pair.
During a previous interview, “Bring It On” star Gabrielle Union also opened up about Reese’s impact on women’s sports and pop culture.
“Going to Chicago Sky games, everyone is like ‘Angel Reese, Angel Reese’ and then after the game, you know she stays for a very long time and the line of kids waiting to see her who are just like overwhelmed at the sight of her, it’s boys and girls,” Union said.
What Other Superstars Are Coming To The Brand?
Adding to its roster of elite athletes, Reebok announced new deals with Arizona Razorbacks star Darius Acuff Jr. and UCLA alum and NCAA champion Lauren Betts, per The Blast.
Acuff Jr. will be the first athlete to receive his own shoe while in college, while Betts, who was recently selected No. 4 in the WNBA Draft, will help push the brand forward by sporting the company’s Engine A silhouette and AR1s.