Angel Reese debuts new sneakers, 2K cover on same day
Sky forward Angel Reese had herself another big day.
On Wednesday, Reebok unveiled the design of her first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1s. A few hours later, 2K Games announced that she’ll appear on the cover of a special edition of the NBA 2K26 game. She became the second WNBA player to earn the honor, after A’ja Wilson last year.
“She’s a star,” Sky coach Tyler Marsh said before the game against the Wings. “You don’t get that type of acknowledgement if you’re not.”
Reese, who was named an All-Star for a second consecutive year, leads the WNBA in rebounding and was in the midst of a historic stretch — six games in a row with at least 15 rebounds — that was snapped against Dallas (11 boards). Asked about the announcements, Reese said she always does it big.
“When I entered the draft, I was on Vogue,” she said. “There’s not a cover I can’t be on.”
She joins a short list of WNBA players with their own signature shoes — Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Wilson — with Caitlin Clark expected to join soon.
In a post announcing the release, Reese wrote: “Just a kid from Baltimore, turning dreams into reality and hoping I can inspire young women and men everywhere to do the same. The most brilliant diamonds take pressure, polish and time. Reebok is back — and the diamonds are shining brighter than ever.”
She spoke before the game about gratitude, especially for her mom, who raised her and her brother on her own. Now Angel’s a star in the WNBA, and Julian Reese just signed with the Lakers.
Marsh expressed his gratitude, too.
“Angel represents the very best of what athletes are,” he said. “I’m grateful that my son has the opportunity to grow up around athletes like her. It gives him someone else to look up to and see certain moments like this.”
Reese wore the new shoes against the Wings.
Tempers flare
Reese’s week also included a viral moment from the loss to the Mystics on Tuesday. She smacked a clipboard out of vice president of basketball operations Ann Crosby’s hands after a controversial call. A video of it quickly made the rounds on X.
“Those [refs] were [ticking] me off,” Reese posted afterward. “Shoutout to Ann because she knows it was the heat of the moment and she didn’t let me apologize because she knew! Not happening again tho.”
The last three minutes included several calls that went against the Sky, including one in the closing seconds that led to the go-ahead free throws. The normally mild-mannered Marsh had to be held back from the refs after the game. By Wednesday, though, he was back to baseline and saw no need to address the clipboard incident with Reese.
“I don’t think there’s any malice there,” Marsh said. “[Angel and Ann] recognize the passion that was there. We don’t want to take that away from Angel.”
Quigley honored
The Sky lifted Allie Quigley’s No. 14 jersey to the rafters at halftime, honoring one of the greatest shooters in WNBA history. She ended her 10-year Sky career as the franchise leader in points and field goals until her wife, Courtney Vandersloot, passed her this season. They helped lead the Sky to the WNBA title in 2021.