Angel Reese

Born 2002

Fact

Led LSU to their first NCAA women's basketball championship

Fact

Set the WNBA all-time record for consecutive double-doubles

Fact

Her rivalry with Caitlin Clark drove record women's basketball viewership

Angel Reese — "Bayou Barbie" — plays basketball with an intensity and swagger that has made her one of the most talked-about athletes in America. As a forward for the Chicago Sky, she has brought a relentless rebounding style and magnetic personality that draws fans who have never watched a WNBA game before. Her rivalry with Caitlin Clark has been credited with driving the most significant surge in women's basketball viewership in history.

Born in Randallstown, Maryland, in 2002, Reese starred at the University of Maryland before transferring to LSU, where she led the Tigers to the 2023 NCAA championship — the school's first women's basketball title. Her celebration, pointing to her ring finger and staring down opponents, became an iconic moment that divided opinion but captivated millions. She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Reese's rookie WNBA season with the Chicago Sky was record-breaking — she set the league's all-time record for consecutive double-doubles and was named to the All-Star team. More importantly, she has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting sponsorship deals, magazine covers, and a massive social media following that is helping to transform women's basketball from a niche sport into a mainstream entertainment powerhouse.