Though some may have taken offense at LSU’s Angel Reese for engaging in some showmanship against Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark in the game that ended with the Tigers’ first ever national title in women’s basketball, there’s no denying it was effective in raising “Bayou Barbie’s” brand.
Reese is now the highest-valued women’s college basketball player in America.
She also ranks third among all female collegiate athletes. The top two are both gymnasts: Fellow LSU Tiger Olivia Dunne and Auburn’s Sunisa Lee.
Heading into the NCAA tournament, Reese’s NIL value sat at $371,000. Since winning the championship, Reese has skyrocketed to $480,000.
Likewise, her social media following has tripled in number to 3.6 million.
All this means you’ll be seeing a lot more of Reese as she preps for her junior season at LSU and a chance to repeat as champ. Bose, Coach, and Calvin Klein have all signed Reese to endorsement deals.
For Reese, the most rewarding part is that her achievements have come from simply being herself.
“All year I was critiqued about who I was,” Reese said after winning the title. “I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all say nothing.
“So this was for the girls that look like me, that’s going to speak up on what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you. That’s (who) I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. It was bigger than me.”
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