“As a little girl growing up you always dream of playing basketball and getting your first trading card – I can’t wait for fans everywhere to be able to start collecting my Panini cards,” Reese said.

The former “Bayou Barbie” and 2023 national champion from LSU is projected to be a top-ten prospect in the 2024 WNBA Draft on Apr. 15.

A true game changer, on and off of the court

Honored to welcome the iconic @Reese10Angel to the Panini Exclusive Family!

Angel’s first Panini Cards will be available at 3:00 PM EST here: https://t.co/3XsYkmPG2a #WhoDoYouCollect pic.twitter.com/dWAA9AoHEv

— Panini America (@PaniniAmerica) April 10, 2024

“Angel is an outstanding talent and an electric player, and we are excited to welcome her to the Panini family as an exclusive athlete,” Jason Howarth, Panini America’s senior vice president of marketing and athlete relations, said in a released statement.

Panini’s first product with Reese is the $9.99 Panini Instant card, which is available on the company’s website.

Reese declared for the WNBA Draft a day after losing to Iowa in the NCAA Women’s Championship semifinal game. The Hawkeye’s legendary guard, Cailin Clark, announced a deal with Panini last month.   Clark projects to become the overall draft pick in the WNBA Draft’s first round.

The two young superstars intend to make their professional debut at the beginning of the WNBA season.

In the article, Reese stated: “I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” Reese said. “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro—and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I’m ready.”

She’s an influential business figure in sports. Reese, “The Bayou Barbie,” already has over 5 million social media followers, a NIL deal with Reebok, and partnerships with Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Mercedes-Benz, AirBNB, Beats by Dre, and ZOA.

The loss to Iowa hurt the LSU faithful but not Reese’s impact and marketability. During her post-game interview, she expressed her frustrations with handling pressures outside the basketball court after leading LSU to win the 2023 NCAA Women’s National Championship.  

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark could become for the WNBA what Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were for the NBA in the 80s and 90s. The arrival of the two legends propelled the professional league into a different stratosphere — so can Reese and Clark do the same for the WNBA.

Monday, April 15, will be one of the most important for the struggling league as the draft will have emerging stars entering the league. Most will be well prepared for the limelight and exposure.  

Angel Reese may not be selected as the overall selection in the WNBA Draft, but it shouldn’t matter. Her determination to become one of the league’s best players will make her a recognizable figure worldwide, enhancing the WNBA brand and market demand.

The newly created partnership was announced via social media with the SEC Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year wearing Jordan Jumpman Brand apparel.
Williams posted on Instagram, “Signing with Jordan Brand allows me to inspire young girls and contribute to the growth of women’s basketball.”

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A post shared by Jordan (@jumpman23)

By signing, she becomes part of a group that includes NBA players such as Brandon Ingram, Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Rui Hachimura, along with MLB superstar Aaron Judge and WNBA star Satou Sabally.