Angel Reese has made it official, she’s not just playing the game anymore, she’s owning it. The Chicago Sky forward and WNBA All-Star has successfully trademarked her name, solidifying her position as one of the brightest stars in basketball.
The move also set her as a rising business mogul in her own right.
According to filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Reese’s trademark for “Angel Reese” was approved on Oct. 28, through her own limited liability company, Angel Reese LLC.
The move gives her full ownership and control over how her name is used commercially, a major milestone for any athlete navigating the billion-dollar world of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.
For Reese, this marks the next chapter of a journey that began with her viral “Bayou Barbie” persona during her days at LSU. What started as a playful nickname quickly evolved into a movement — representing confidence, athletic excellence, and unapologetic Black womanhood in sports.
Now, with the legal power of a trademark behind her, Reese is taking that empowerment from the court to the corporate world.
“She’s not just dribbling the ball — she’s dribbling assets,” one sports marketing analyst told Front Office Sports, noting that Reese’s decision reflects a broader trend of young athletes taking control of their own intellectual property. “It’s a business move rooted in ownership, foresight, and financial literacy — all before 25.”
This isn’t Reese’s first play for brand control, either. The 23-year-old has also filed to trademark the term “Mebounds”, a fan-coined phrase that perfectly captures her dominance on the boards. While the filing is still pending, Reese has already embraced it as part of her identity.
“Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing, y’all ate that up,” she said with a laugh in a viral TikTok clip earlier this year. “Anything that comes off that board, it’s mine. And a brand? That’s six figures right there.”
And she wasn’t exaggerating.
Reese’s off-court empire continues to expand — with endorsement deals, a shoe collection with Reebok, brand partnerships with Cash App, and even fashion appearances on the runway. The trademark ensures she can capitalize on those ventures with full autonomy and legal protection, preventing unauthorized use of her name across merchandise, endorsements, and media projects.
It’s a defining move in a new era of athlete entrepreneurship, where stars like Reese are turning fame into generational wealth by understanding the legal and financial framework behind their public persona.
What’s next for “The Bayou Barbie”? Reese has hinted at more projects on the horizon but remains focused on balancing her business ventures with her growing basketball career.
Still, the message is clear: Angel Reese is not just a player in the WNBA. She’s building an empire, and she’s making sure her name stays hers.
