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Angel Reese Makes History: From Basketball Courts to Victoria’s Secret Runway in 2025
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The lights were dimmed, the cameras were rolling, and somewhere in New York City, Angel Reese was about to shatter another ceiling. This time, it wasn’t a backboard—it was the hallowed runway of Victoria’s Secret.

You could feel the electricity in that announcement video. There she was, the Chicago Sky forward who’d spent two seasons bulldozing through WNBA defenses, now preparing to strut down fashion’s most iconic catwalk. The kid who once grabbed 20 rebounds in a single game was about to grab something else entirely: a pair of wings that would make her the first professional athlete ever to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Angel Reese’s Groundbreaking Partnership Announcement

When Victoria’s Secret dropped that Instagram bombshell on Thursday, the sports and fashion worlds collided like a perfectly timed screen. “Angel Reese, welcome to the runway. The first professional athlete angel…major is an understatement,” read the caption that sent social media into overdrive.

But here’s the thing about Angel Reese—she’s never been one to just follow paths. She creates them. And this wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment opportunity that fell into her lap. This was a manifestation in its purest form.

Back in November 2024, buried in her Instagram stories like a secret between friends, Reese made a declaration that would make even the most superstitious athlete believe in the power of speaking things into existence: “I’m going to walk in a VS fashion show! Mark my words!!!”

Fast forward eleven months, and those words were about to become winged reality.

The Business Side of Angel Reese’s Empire

Let’s be real here—Angel Reese isn’t just a basketball player who happens to look good in lingerie. She’s a businesswoman who understood the assignment before the assignment was even handed out. While other athletes were still figuring out their post-game meal plans, Reese was building an empire that spans from hardwood to high fashion.

Her portfolio reads like a master class in brand building. Two Met Gala appearances? Check. A signature shoe deal with Reebok that had sneakerheads camping out for drops? Double check. And now, a global partnership with Victoria’s Secret that breaks barriers nobody even knew existed.

This isn’t accidental success—it’s calculated excellence. Reese grabbed the NIL era by the throat during her LSU days and never let go. Every brand partnership, every photoshoot, every carefully crafted Instagram post has been building toward moments like this.

Angel Reese’s Fashion Show Dreams Come True

Picture this: a 23-year-old kid from Baltimore, standing in some photographer’s studio, draped in Victoria’s Secret’s finest, those iconic wings spread wide behind her. The photos that dropped alongside the announcement weren’t just promotional material—they were a statement.

“Stepping into a dream: From Angel to a Victoria Secret ANGEL. I’m finally getting my wings,” she wrote, and you could practically feel the goosebumps through the screen. “Wings on, heels ready…Catch me on the runway.”

The runway show, scheduled for October 15th in New York City, represents more than just a fashion moment. It’s a cultural shift. It’s proof that the modern athlete doesn’t have to choose between sports and style, between rebounds and runways, between being fierce on the court and fabulous off it.

The WNBA Star’s Court Struggles and Off-Court Triumphs

Now, let’s not sugarcoat the basketball side of things. Reese’s 2024 season was a tale of individual brilliance wrapped in team frustration. She averaged 14.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per night—numbers that would make any coach salivate—but injuries limited her to just 30 games. The Chicago Sky finished a dismal 10-34, missing the playoffs for another year.

The season ended with Reese calling out the front office in a way that made headlines for all the wrong reasons. There was drama, there were suspensions, and there were comments that probably should have stayed in group chats.

But here’s what separates champions from everyone else: they use setbacks as setups for comebacks. While the Sky’s season crumbled around her, Reese was building something bigger than basketball wins and losses.

Angel Reese’s Historic Runway Achievement

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show has been the Mount Everest of fashion events for decades. Supermodels have built careers on those wings. Careers have been made and broken on that runway. It’s where fashion meets fantasy, where the impossible becomes iconic.

And now? Now it belongs to a girl who learned how to fight for every rebound, every loose ball, every moment in the spotlight. Angel Reese isn’t just walking that runway—she’s claiming it, owning it, making it hers in a way that only a champion can.

When October 15th arrives and those lights hit the runway, when Angel Reese takes those first steps in her wings and heels, she’ll be carrying more than just Victoria’s Secret’s latest collection. She’ll be carrying the dreams of every young athlete who’s ever been told they have to pick a lane, stay in their box, choose between their athletic gifts and their other passions.

The Future of Angel Reese’s Brand

This Victoria’s Secret partnership isn’t an endpoint—it’s a launching pad. It’s proof that the modern athlete’s influence extends far beyond their sport, that success can be measured in more than just championships and statistics.

Angel Reese has figured out something that took previous generations decades to understand: your athletic career is just one chapter in a much bigger story. The question isn’t whether she’ll find success beyond basketball—it’s how many more barriers she’ll break along the way.

Come October 15th, when Angel Reese spreads those wings and owns that runway, she won’t just be making history. She’ll be rewriting the playbook for what it means to be a professional athlete in the modern era.

And honestly? We can’t wait to see what she manifests next.

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

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