๐๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐จ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐ฒ
July 10, 2025 โ New York, NY
In a groundbreaking moment for womenโs sports, Angel Reese has been officially announced as the cover athlete for NBA 2K26โs WNBA edition, becoming one of the youngest players ever to grace the iconic video game franchise. But the history-making didnโt stop thereโReese also stunned fans with the unveiling of her first-ever signature shoe, “The Reign 1” in partnership with Nike.
Standing on the rooftop court of the Nike World Headquarters in Manhattan, Reese delivered a message of empowerment, legacy, and unapologetic pride. The crowdโmade up of media, fans, fellow athletes, and young girls sporting LSU and Chicago Sky jerseysโerupted into cheers as the massive LED screen revealed her NBA 2K26 cover.
โI used to play 2K and never saw someone who looked like me on the cover,โ Reese said, visibly emotional. โNow, little girls everywhere will.โ
A Rising Icon
Reese, known as the “Bayou Barbie,” catapulted to stardom after leading LSU to its first NCAA Womenโs Basketball Championship in 2023. Since entering the WNBA as the No. 7 overall pick by the Chicago Sky, she has averaged a double-double in her rookie season, earning All-Star honors and becoming a fan favorite through her dominant paint presence and magnetic charisma.
More than an athlete, Reese has become a symbol of cultural pride and authenticity. Her influence spans sports, fashion, music, and digital mediaโmaking her one of the most marketable athletes of her generation.
The Game Cover That Changed the Game
2K Sports Creative Director, Lisa McKenna, explained the significance behind the selection:
โAngel Reese represents a powerful new era in basketball. Sheโs not just performing at an elite levelโsheโs shifting culture. Thatโs why sheโs the face of NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition.โ
Reese joins the elite ranks of previous WNBA cover stars like Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, and Sabrina Ionescu. But her edition features a first: a fully voice-acted WNBA MyCareer storyline, with Reese herself voicing a mentor role for rising stars.
“The Reign 1” โ A Shoe Built to Empower
In collaboration with Nike, Reese also introduced her first signature sneaker: The Reign 1. The shoe blends high-performance tech with bold designโfeaturing metallic gold accents, a floral lace pattern inspired by her New Orleans roots, and the phrase โUnapologetic Greatnessโ etched into the sole.
A portion of all sales will go toward the “Reign Foundation,” a new nonprofit led by Reese that supports girls of color in sports and STEM.
โItโs more than a shoe,โ Reese told reporters. โItโs a message. A reminder that you donโt have to shrink to succeed.โ
A New Standard
Angel Reeseโs double debutโon the cover of a global video game and in a signature shoe lineโmarks a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of womenโs sports.
As the WNBA continues to surge in viewership, cultural relevance, and global impact, Reese is leading the charge with both power and poise.
And now, in 2K26 and on courts everywhere, the world will playโand walkโin her story.
Let me know if you’d like this turned into a mock press release, news article, or cinematic script.
