Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Reebok CEO's Opinion of Angel Reese Made Clear With Strong Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 8:46 PM ET

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese was the first basketball player Reebok signed after the company relaunched its basketball brand.

Reese's first signature shoe will be coming out later this season, Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky told Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

During his interview with Vorkunov, Krinsky opened up about why Reese is the basketball player he's building around.

"If you think about when we’ve really been successful, it’s been having these bigger-than-life personalities that are embracing on- and off-the-court culture," Krinsky said. "Shaq was like that. He was larger than life. He wasn’t just a center. He transformed the game. And he had this bigger-than-life personality.

"Allen Iverson, we signed him in ’96. Obviously, he changed the way players look and dress. He changed the culture of the game. And I think that’s what Angel is."

Reese has over five million followers on Instagram and over 690,000 followers on X.

The former LSU forward made the All-Star team last year as a rookie and won the rebounding title.

In 42 career games with the Sky, Reese is averaging 12.9 points and 12.9 rebounds. She has already established herself as one of the top rebounders in WNBA history.

"Angel is a provocative disruptor," Krinsky said. "But she doesn’t do it just for clicks or whatever. She does it because she really has this very, kind of unique, rebellious attitude. And those are the type of athletes that — athletes have something to say.

"Athletes are more than just athletes, away from the court. That’s the formula of what’s really worked for us in the past, so we can build these icons, and she’s definitely one of them. She fits the Shaq/AI mentality."

Reese signed a four-year, $324,383 contract with the Sky last year after getting drafted in April.

The 23-year-old then agreed to a multi-year endorsement contract extension with Reebok in October 2024.

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

More must-reads: