Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Angel Reese Delivers Message Ahead of Historic First-of-Its-Kind Event

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Mar 25, 2026 9:17 PM ET

Angel Reese had another All-Star season with the Chicago Sky in 2025, averaging 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Her work allowed her to earn a spot on the Team USA roster for the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament earlier this March.

The Sky forward impressed for USA Basketball in her senior debut, putting up 6.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals. Her rebounding average was the best on the team.

Team USA went 5-0 in the competition. Reese's best performance came in their second game against Puerto Rico, in which she recorded a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds to lead the squad to a 91-48 victory.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) stands on the sidelines before a WNBA game.© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

While the qualifying tournament is over, Reese's offseason continues to be an eventful one. In fact, she's set to take part in a historic event on Friday.

Reese will serve as a speaker at the Barbie Dream Fest in Fort Lauderdale. The event is the first-ever official fan festival for all things Barbie.

When asked by The Palm Beach Post about the event and what it means for her to be part of it, Reese had only great things to say.

Aside from Reese, other speakers at the event include tennis icon Serena Williams, NASA aerospace engineer Dr. Swati Mohan, and actress, author and activist Marlee Matlin, among many others.

"It's incredible — it's bigger than just an event, it's history," Reese stated. "Being part of the first Barbie fan festival is already special, but then you look at who I'm sharing this time with – Serena Williams, who redefined greatness, and Dr. Swati Mohan, who's literally changing the world through science."

"Barbie" has always been part of Reese's identity, as her nickname evolved from "Bayou Barbie" from her LSU days to "Chi Barbie" after joining the Sky in the WNBA. For Reese, the fact that the Barbie brand embraced her is truly special.

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"It really does feel full circle — "Bayou Barbie" started with the fans, and it was just something fun, something that represented my time at LSU — but now it’s grown into something way bigger," Reese added.

"To have Barbie embrace that and bring me into this moment, that's special. It shows how powerful it is to be authentically yourself."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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