Angel Reese, “The Bayou Barbie”
Entering Season 3 in the W
Angel Reese is entering her third season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as the league celebrates its 30th season. This is also her first year with the Atlanta Dream, who’ll tip off their season on Saturday, May 9, against the Minnesota Lynx. Known as the “Bayou Barbie”, she’s a fashionable force who’s helping usher in a new era for the W.
So how does one with such style and grace off the court become such a popular figure in women’s basketball?
Below, you’ll discover how a love for family, sports, and fashion has helped Angel Reese become the woman she is today. You’ll also learn how having faith in God serves as a foundation that helps her withstand adversity, criticism, and hatred.
The Reese’s from Randallstown, Maryland
Angel Reese comes from an Athletic Family
Angel Reese was born on May 6, 2002, in Randallstown, Maryland. She is the only daughter of Michael and Angel Webb Reese. Together, the two also have one son, Julian. Angel also has a brother on her father’s side, Mikael Hopkins.
Mikael played basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas and overseas in Turkey. Similarly, her youngest brother, Julian, played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins and is entering his second season with the Washington Wizards.
Likewise, Angel is making a name for herself in women’s hoops. While Angel and her brothers are doing well for themselves, they aren’t trailblazers traversing an unbeaten path. Michael and Angel Webb passed down their athleticism to their children.
Michael played college ball at Boston College and Loyola. During the 1993-1994 season, he led Loyola to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament.
Although Angel inherited her father’s athleticism, the two don’t have a close relationship. This may be due in part to the fact that her parents split when she was young.
Consequently, Angel Webb Reese was left to raise her namesake and son as a single mother. Angel honors Mother Reese’s devotion and sacrifice by crediting her as the reason she’s successful today.
In fact, Angel says Mother Reese is the reason why she’s a basketball player today. Watching Mother Reese’s league games on Sundays became the inspiration Angel needed to fulfill her divine purpose.
Along with competing in a league, Mother Reese also played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins and overseas in Luxembourg. Mother’s Reese’s experience came in handy while coaching Angel and Julian during their childhood.
Forged By Fire
Being competitors who are a year apart and different genders created the perfect sibling rivalry between Angel and Julian. Julian’s belief that he was the better athlete because he was a boy fueled Angel’s fire, helping develop the toughness she displays on the court.
Along with Mother Reese’s example and Julian’s trash talk, Angel’s fire was also forged by her environment. Growing up in Randallstown, she attended St.Francis Academy while in high school.
The academy was directly across from a prison. Many African Americans find the proximity of the school and the prison is no mere coincidence. To us, it’s a subliminal reminder highlighting where society expects black students to end up after high school. Thankfully, Angel uses this as motivation, understanding the need to escape this harsh reality.
Angel Reese High School & College Accolades
Life as a Student at St. Francis
The first step to her exodus was doing well spiritually, academically, and athletically at St. Francis. Spiritually, she credits St.Francis with helping her develop a relationship with God and encouraging her to be the best student possible. Evidence proving this is Angel graduating with a 3.5 GPA and making the honor roll every semester.
Athletically, she excelled in volleyball and basketball, winning two Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) championships in both sports. Being a two-time champion in basketball helped Angel acquire the following stats in 60 games with the Panthers
- 1078 points.
- 701 rebounds.
- 185 assists.
- 96 blocks.
- 93 steals.
Having a plethora of steals and other stats allowed Angel to earn the following awards
- Baltimore Sun All-Metro First Team (2018).
- Capital Classic MVP (2018).
- IAAM All Conference A-Team (2018).
- Baltimore Sun All-Metro First Team (2020, 2019, 2018).
- Baltimore Sun Player of the Year (2020 and 2019).
- McDonald’s High School All-American (2020).
- USA Today All-USA First Team (2020).
Angel Plays for Maryland & Louisiana State
Being a star athlete and honor roll student allowed Angel to earn a scholarship to her mother’s alma mater. In two seasons with the Maryland Terps, over 47 games, she posted impressive stats and earned a few accolades. They include the following
- 719 points.
- 430 rebounds.
- 65 assists.
- 62 steals.
- 55 blocks.
- 68% freethrow percentage.
- 49.3% field goal percentage.
Thanks to this effort, Angel was named
- 2020-2021 All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
- 2021-2022 All Big Ten.
- 2021-2022 All Big Ten Defense.
These accolades prove Angel was an impactful player with the Terps. Unfortunately, a right foot injury during the 2020-2021 season and struggles to obtain sufficient playing time left her desiring a fresh start.
Her desire would be fulfilled after transferring to Louisiana State University (LSU).
She made the most of this new opportunity by being an essential part of the Lady Tigers 2023 National Championship team. The 2023 National Champion also accomplished the following through 69 games with the Lady Tigers
- 1443 points.
- 996 rebounds.
- 157 assists.
- 128 steals.
- 89 blocks.
- 71.6% free throw percentage.
- 50.1% field goal percentage.
She also won several awards, including being named
- A 3x AP All-American.
- 2022-2023 NCAA All-Tournament.
- 2022-2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
- 2023-2024 South Eastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year.
- 2024 All-SEC Tournament.
Tears of a Lady Tiger
Though successful with LSU, the Bayou Barbie learned that heavy is the head that wears the crown (or tiara). Angel’s burden and cross to bear came at the hands of college basketball “fans” comments.
As a star athlete since high school, Angel is accustomed to being critiqued for her play on the court. Sadly, existing in the social media era also means encountering commentary from strangers who attack your appearance, character, and overall identity.
For example, a heated rivalry between Caitlin Clark caused Angel and her teammates to endure death threats as well as racist and sexist rhetoric from spectators and analysts. Angel admits there are times she has to turn off her phone to escape.
She also deals with the scrutiny by leaning on her support system and journaling. While these are great ways to deal with unjust criticism, her greatest weapon in this battle is her faith in God.
After all, wouldn’t you expect her to look to the same God she praises after winning a national championship?
Her discipline of praying and reading daily devotionals is the foundation that reminds her she is a child of God. They also help her withstand the pressure of being a famous female athlete.
Angel Reese Achieves Her Ultimate Dream
Angel with the Chicago Sky & Rose BC
Her devotion to God, academic excellence, and work ethic are the reasons why she achieved her dream of playing in the WNBA. She was selected as the 7th pick in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft.
In two seasons with the Sky, Angel has become a two-time all-star and total rebounding champion. In 64 games, she also has
- 902 points.
- 823 rebounds.
- 173 assists.
- 88 steals.
- 36 blocks.
- 42.1% field goal percentage.
- 74.6 three-throw percentage.
Along with the WNBA, Angel continued working during the offseason by competing in the inaugural season of the Unrivaled Basketball League. With Rose BC, she
- Won the 2025 Unrivaled championship.
- Was named Defensive Player of the Year.
- Led the league with 173 rebounds.
- Became one of four players to average a double-double.
Sadly, her success with Rose BC didn’t translate to her experience with the Chicago Sky. Angel was upset with the Sky’s effort and the front office’s approach to acquiring talent.
Joining the Dream, Remaining Committed to God
Thankfully, the Sky traded Angel to the Atlanta Dream on April 6, 2026. With a fresh start in Atlanta, maybe Angel can replicate her performance at LSU and help the Dream win a championship.
Off the court, I hope Angel continues to excel as a business owner, podcast host, and model. (Important note: as a model, Angel recently attended the 2026 Met Gala and is the first professional athlete to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show).
Most importantly, I pray she continues to grow in her faith. She can do this by heeding the advice Pastor Mike Brown gave on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel. He encourages new believers and athletes to connect with
- God by talking to Him every day.
- Scripture daily to develop a personal pursuit with God.
- A local church to stay a part of a community.
- Mentors who’ll keep them grounded in their faith.
I also encourage Angel to connect with fellow athletes like Aja Wilson and Coco Gauff, who are standing strong in their faith.
Furthermore, I encourage Angel to continue demonstrating her faith through charity. Thanks to the Angel C. Reese Foundation, she’s able to support and empower young female athletes through various initiatives.
Her influence is just what a young woman needs to walk in the calling God has for them. By refreshing others, Angel can expect that God will refresh her when she’s in need.
Win or lose, Angel must continue to hold fast to her faith so the world can see she’s victorious through Jesus Christ.
Thank You!
Thank you for reading the latest article from the Electi A Deo Experience! Feel free to comment on the article and share it with someone you know. Be blessed and have a great weekend!
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