Angel Reese makes history in NCAA tournament as player with most sponsorship deals

Angel Reese, 20, is a college basketball player who has played her way into financial success. The LSU Tigers star is cashing in on her popularity off the court. On her official website, she is selling merchandise, in addition to signing lucrative deals with powerful brands. 

In the history of the NCAA tournament, no player, man or woman, has signed more deals than Reese, according to Sponsors United. So far, she has signed 17 NIL deals totaling $392,000 per year with brands such as Calvin Klein, Bose, JanSport, McDonald, Xfinity, and Coach, among others, nypost reported.

The Maryland native’s success comes on the back of the growth of her social media handles. She now has over one million followers on both Instagram and TikTok, going from LSU sensation to social media influencer.

According to her manager, Jeanine Ogbonnaya, many more brands have been calling since her last match, where she finished with a double-double and copied Iowa star Caitlin Clark‘s “you can’t see me” celebration in the game’s closing seconds before pointing out her ring finger.

“She’s not just a student-athlete anymore or a marketable women’s basketball player where we’re doing these one-off deals,” Ogbonnaya said. “I think at this point, she’s got the following to back it up where she can be doing long-term partnerships that truly align with her brand and her messaging, and finding those brands that align with that as well.

“I think this whole weekend, really, everyone took notice of her lashes and her lip gloss, how beautiful she is. The modeling, the fashion, and the lifestyle space is definitely something that we’re really pushing toward.”

Reese is also considering a sneaker deal, On3 reported. According to the platform, sneaker brands like Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour have expressed interest in signing her, as well as the Jordan brand. However, Ogbonnaya says they are not in a rush to make a choice.

“Having a lot of conversations in that space,” she said. “You know, I think sneaker deals are obviously a very traditional category for athletes. She plays at a Nike school, but all things are on the table. I’d love to do something unique in the space because, like I said, it is so traditional and Angel — she’s a unicorn. So, I would love to do something different and fresh in the shoe space. That doesn’t mean a unique brand, it could be a traditional brand, but something that’s different and separates her from her peers.”

Meanwhile, Reese is set to return to college next year as she is not yet qualified to go professional. Per WNBA requirements, entrants must be 22 years old or have graduated from college before going to pro.