For as long as WNBA superstar Angel Reese can remember, the McDonald's brand has been synonymous with basketball.
And she's not alone. From TV commercials starring NBA legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James to the brand’s involvement in youth basketball, working with McDonald’s has given a generation of athletes a new Wheaties box moment to strive towards.
"My biggest dream was to always be a McDonald's All-American," Reese told Just Women's Sports last week. And while Reese might have missed out on the All-American game as a high schooler due to pandemic-related shutdowns, her first professional alignment with McDonald's might end up being even more significant.
Next month, Reese will become the first-ever women's basketball player to lend her name to a signature McDonald's meal deal, the Angel Reese Special. Inspired by "Angel's boldly original style and swag," the combo — a Bold BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese plus fries and a drink — this drive-thrus across the country on February 10th.
Of course, McDonald's partnerships aren't limited to the world of sports. Musical artists and pop culture moguls like Saweetie, Cardi B, Travis Scott, and more have collaborated with the fast food giant in recent years. So it makes perfect sense that Reese, known for balancing a burgeoning pro career with influential projects off the court, is the first women's basketball player to make the leap.
"Obviously I'm a basketball player, but one day the ball will stop, and I always wanted to be more than that," she said. "That's why I try to tap into other things — my podcast, fashion, and everything else. To know I'm listed with some of the [McDonald's] greats obviously is a great feeling."
"It's amazing," she added. "It's bigger than basketball."
Learning from WNBA legends
"Bigger than basketball" has long been Reese's driving ethos. She takes her image very seriously, aiming to show little girls they too can make strides in the business of basketball. But she also wants global audiences to know that women's basketball has always been cutting edge.
"Lisa Leslie, she's been a face, putting on her gloss and makeup for games," Reese said. "Skylar [Diggins-Smith]'s been into fashion, They were wearing Skylar's jerseys — Drake, Wayne. You've got to realize this has been going on."
Entering her second year in the WNBA, the Chicago Sky rookie cherished the opportunity to personally give her role models their flowers.
"You guys helped me get to this point. You guys walked so I can run," she said, referencing the messages she's been able to give icons like Leslie and Diggins-Smith. "I'm doing these things because you guys did it."
Reese is currently starring for Rose BC, one of the six teams making up Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball's inaugural season. In Miami, she has a front-row seat to how established WNBA stars handle their personal brands, both on and off the court.
"It's like a summer camp — I'm learning everything from the vets," she said. "These are like my big sisters here, and I'm just enjoying everything."
Don't knock the hustle
Reese has been grinding non-stop since her senior year at LSU. Her longest break, she noted, only came after she suffered a season-ending wrist fracture playing for Chicago in early September. But the moment she was cleared to play, she moved to Miami and got to work.
Reflecting on her jam-packed 2024, Reese credits the professionals around her for helping her internalize many of the things rookies have to learn on the fly. These growing pains include reshaping ideas about how to eat, recovery, skill work, and avoiding burnout by taking time for yourself.
"There's no better time than now," she said emphatically. "I'm getting better because I'm around pros literally every single day."
"I think people forget that sometimes, that basketball has gotten me to being this superstar, and that's my main focus," she continues.
The 22-year-old has been in frequent contact with incoming Chicago head coach Tyler Marsh throughout the offseason. She's eager for the Sky to compete in the free agency market, putting together a core that can carry the team for years to come — some of which came early in reports of the signing of veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot.
The ultimate goal is making the 2025 playoffs, before launching a deep postseason run.
McDonald's deal is just the beginning for Reese
Between sponsorship opportunities, Unrivaled, and the WNBA, Reese's life is a juggling act. But she trusts that by continuing to grow on the court, everything else will fall into place. Like her McDonald's deal, she's always thinking about the bigger picture.
"I want somebody to be able to go to McDonald's and get a cup with Angel Reese's face on it. Like, who doesn't want to do that?" she said with a laugh. "Even with some of my other things I have going on — going in the store and getting my cereal box, small things like that — it should always be accessible."
"Women should be accessible," she emphasized. "We should be easy to see. We can turn on TNT every single night here and watch Unrivaled — this is what we deserve."
