Angel Reese, the reigning queen of NIL deals and social media banter, found herself in yet another branding kerfuffle this week-and this time, it’s about playing cards. Yes, you read that right.
Reese, who inked a multi-year NIL deal with Reebok in October 2023 to help revive its basketball brand under icons Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson, isn’t just guarding her signature shoe set to debut in 2026-she’s protecting the brand down to the very last detail. Even cards are fair game.
The hilarity kicked off when Reese took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday morning to ask Los Angeles Sparks star Dearica Hamby when she’d finally teach her how to play Spades. Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper chimed in, admitting she, too, needed some Spades lessons.
Cards? Really, Angel?
Hamby, ever the prepared card enthusiast, responded with a gif of herself brandishing Michael Jordan-branded playing cards, declaring, “Got cards in my purse at all times.”
Enter Angel Reese, the branding enforcer, with a zinger: “Oh Mama D, I’m sorry, but I’m not playing with that brand of cards…”
The internet loved it, and Reese’s subtle-but-shady jab set the tone for her off-court antics leading into the Unrivaled 3×3 league, which tips off on January 17. Reese and Copper, now teammates on the Rose Basketball Club, have already cemented their status as Unrivaled’s top comedic duo.
The Reese-Cooper duo could reach the W
The Phoenix Mercury couldn’t resist posting a clip of the pair’s antics over the weekend, dubbing them the frontrunners for the “Best Unrivaled Comedic Duo.” Reese responded coyly: “You can always come… nvm we got 10 weeks to chat.”
While Reese is locked into her Chicago Sky contract for the foreseeable future, Copper will hit free agency in 2025, teasing the possibility of their WNBA team-up becoming more than just Unrivaled banter.
As Reese continues to juggle her Reebok deal, basketball, and her growing reputation as a witty social media queen, one thing’s for sure-when Angel Reese is in the game, the drama (and laughs) are always unmatched.
