Angel Reese, 20, is a college basketball player who has risen through the ranks to achieve financial success. Off the court, the LSU Tigers star is capitalizing on her celebrity. She sells merchandise on her official website in addition to signing lucrative deals with powerful brands.
According to Sponsors United, no player, man or woman, has signed more deals in the history of the NCAA tournament than Reese. According to nypost, she has signed 17 NIL deals totaling $392,000 per year with brands such as Calvin Klein, Bose, JanSport, McDonald, Xfinity, and Coach.
The growth of her social media handles has contributed to the success of the Maryland native. She has over one million Instagram and TikTok followers, transitioning from LSU sensation to social media influencer.
Many more brands have called her manager, Jeanine Ogbonnaya, since her last match, in which she finished with a double-double and mimicked Iowa star Caitlin Clark’s “you can’t see me” celebration in the game’s final seconds before pointing out her ring finger.
“She’s not just a student-athlete anymore or a marketable women’s basketball player where we’re doing these one-off deals,” Ogbonnaya said. “I think at this point, she’s got the following to back it up where she can be doing long-term partnerships that truly align with her brand and her messaging, and finding those brands that align with that as well.
“I think this whole weekend, really, everyone took notice of her lashes and her lip gloss, how beautiful she is. The modeling, the fashion, and the lifestyle space is definitely something that we’re really pushing toward.”
According to On3, Reese is also considering a sneaker deal. According to the platform, sneaker brands such as Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour, as well as the Jordan brand, have expressed interest in signing her. Ogbonnaya, on the other hand, says they are not in a hurry to make a decision.
“Having a lot of conversations in that space,” she said. “You know, I think sneaker deals are obviously a very traditional category for athletes. She plays at a Nike school, but all things are on the table. I’d love to do something unique in the space because, like I said, it is so traditional and Angel — she’s a unicorn. So, I would love to do something different and fresh in the shoe space. That doesn’t mean a unique brand, it could be a traditional brand, but something that’s different and separates her from her peers.”
Meanwhile, Reese is set to return to college next year as she is not yet qualified to go professional. Per WNBA requirements, entrants must be 22 years old or have graduated from college before going to pro.