The Bayou Barbie is set to have some money come in while in college.
Louisiana State University forward Angel Reese defeated Iowa and Caitlin Clark during the March Madness tournament on Sunday as LSU won its first women’s basketball title. Reese, a 2023 unanimous first-team All-American who averaged 23 points and 15.4 rebounds this season, became a household name when she went viral for flashing the increasingly famous “you can’t see me” hand gesture. Iowa’s high-scoring Clark had done the same earlier in the tournament, so Reese decided to finish it for her.
Reese has more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram and TikTok combined, and she has gained even more followers after the National Championship game.
Speaking to On3 Sports, Reese’s agent Jeanine Ogbonnaya revealed that Reese is already evaluating possible shoe deals.
“Having a lot of conversations in that space,” Ogbonnaya 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.”
Her agent further stated she is trying to work out a deal with Mattel to potentially create a Barbie doll of Reese in line with her “Bayou Barbie” nickname.
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Reese also has 17 different NIL sponsors, which is the most among all men’s and women’s college basketball players, and it’s the fifth-most sponsors of any collegiate athlete, according to a NIL report by Sponsors United.
Her presence on the court and on social media have made her a hot commodity for sponsors. Reese and other college players have been able to reap NIL profits since 2021 and now that she is the hottest thing out right now, her bank account will surely be growing over the next few months.
