Angel Reese was born on May 6, 2002, and is an up-and-coming WNBA star currently with the Chicago Sky. Nicknamed both "Bayou Barbie" and "Chi Barbie," this LSU Tiger former college sensation led her team to a national championship, winning Most Outstanding Player. And now she is storming her way into the professional league with All-Star honors in her first year.
Born on May 6, 2002, in Randallstown, Maryland, Angel Reese showed her athletic prowess early in her life. She attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, where she became a basketball sensation. Her versatility allowed her to play all five positions on the court, leading her team to multiple IAAM A Conference titles. As a junior, she averaged 22.6 points and 19.3 rebounds per game, taking home awards such as All-Metro Player of the Year.
CAPTION: Before the WNBA, before LSU—Angel Reese was already a force to be reckoned with. SOURCE: Instagram She dominated in the country with Team Takeover, winning the Nike EYBL championship, about as prestigious as it comes in the amateur ranks. Regarded as one of the best in the country, Reese was a 2020 McDonald's All-American and the second-best recruit in her class, according to ESPN.
Reese was the top-ranked recruit to start her collegiate career at the University of Maryland. A fractured right foot got her freshman season derailed with just four games into her first year. Reese then decided to transfer to Louisiana State University in 2022. At LSU, Reese became the consensus first-team All-American and led the Tigers to their first NCAA national championship in 2023, winning the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
She broke several records en route, including the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles and the SEC single-season rebounding record, showing her grit and skill.
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She was selected by the Chicago Sky with the seventh pick in the first round of the 2024 WNBA draft. In her first year in the league, Reese started her career with 15 consecutive doubles, a league record, and grabbed 404 rebounds in one season, breaking the single-season record in the league until it was surpassed.
CAPTION: Angel Reese is rewriting the WNBA rookie narrative—one game, one rebound, one win at a time. SOURCE: Instagram Because of this great performance, she was selected to the WNBA All-Star in her rookie year. She is also scheduled to compete in "Unrivaled," a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league starting in 2025, and she keeps solidifying her status as one of the league's brightest young stars.
Besides all this domestic action, her skills have made equal rounds at international levels: to date, 2023's FIBA Women's AmeriCup saw Reese represent Team USA, an essential factor as the team emerged second with a silver medal. This put Reese amidst some of the best on-court talents, something that had many believe the phenom delivered under high stakes.
Off the court, Angel Reese is just as influential. Born and raised in Randallstown, Maryland, family has always been at the core of her life. Her cousin, Jordan Hawkins, plays for UConn. With her big personality and boldness, Reese has gained a huge social media following; she boasts over 4.5 million followers on Instagram.
CAPTION: Angel Reese is proving that athletes today are more than their sport—she’s a business mogul in the making. SOURCE: Instagram That charisma also drew some massive sponsorships with Amazon, among other companies, as one of the most marketable stars in women's basketball.
Angel Reese isn't playing basketball; she's changing it. Her rivalry with Iowa star Caitlin Clark mesmerized millions during their 2023 NCAA tournament showdown and is likened to that of Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird in how it has turned viewers on. Dubbed "Bayou Barbie" while she was at LSU and then "Chi Barbie" after moving to Chicago, Reese unapologetically brings athleticism and glamour together.
Her face landed on the cover of Vogue in 2025, firmly setting her as not only an athlete but a cultural phenomenon who inspires young women everywhere to go after what they want boldly. Angel Reese is more than just a basketball player; she is a trailblazer who redefined what it means to be a modern-day athlete and stamped her indelible mark into sports and culture alike!
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