This weekend (as of this posting date) was the WNBA All-Star game. With superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on the court together, there was plenty of excitement and drama to be had. All the good kind! Not only that, but Reese had some big news of her own…
If you’ve been following the business posts here on the ShaqFu Radio blog, you know that our man Shaq is now the President of Basketball for the Reebok sports apparel company. He’s also brought his buddy Allen Iverson (the original AI) on as Vice President. The two are working to bring Reebok back to a higher status level in the sports shoe and apparel game.
One of Shaq’s first announcements was that Angel Reese – like O’Neal, an LSU alum – was signing up to the Reebok brand as well. At the time, we didn’t really know what that meant, but now we do. Reese is getting her very own line of “signature” shoes with Reebok. Not just one model, but several.
Reese hinted that something was in the works at Media Day and other press events before the WNBA All Star game in Phoenix Saturday night, saying, “We have a lot of great things in the works.” When a reporter asked if that might mean full-on signature products, her answer was equally simple and direct: “For sure. For sure,” Reese replied.
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As for Shaq, he reposted that interview moment on his Instagram page later Saturday night. As ShaqFu readers know, O’Neal has been a strong mentor for Reese, starting back with her LSU playing days.
Earlier in the week, in an interview with ESPN, Shaq had nothing but great things to say about Reese and the way she transitioned her game from college to the pros: “I know she remembers people saying, ‘Oh, the way you play at LSU is not going to translate to this game,’ and I know she took that to heart. I’m so happy for her and for our team. Not just because she’s with LSU, but I think she’s definitely leading in the Rookie of the Year race.”
As for the All Star game itself, Reese was on fire, scoring 12 points with 11 rebounds, helping Team WNBA’s win over Team USA. She became the first rookie in league history to notch an All-Star Game double-double.
Shaq isn’t the only big Reese fan. On the popular “Undisputed” program Monday, host Skip Bayless was talking GOAT talk over the young superstar. “I’m gonna give [Angel Reese] an A+ because she was extraordinary,” Bayless said, adding, “I’ve gotta say it… I’m pretty sure [Reese] is the best offensive rebounder I’ve ever seen, men’s or women’s.”
So… a big week for the WNBA and Angel Reese. Now comes the Olympics in Paris. Time to see how the lady stars shine on the biggest of international stages.