Angel Reese forms Angel C. Reese Foundation dedicated to female empowerment

Angel Reese is using her budding NIL platform for good.

The LSU basketball player won the Best Breakthrough Athlete at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. At the annual Variety + Sportico Sports and Entertainment Summit on Thursday, the 6-foot-3 small forward announced plans for the Angel C. Reese Foundation, which will focus on empowering women through sports, education and financial literacy.

The first-team All-American led LSU to a national championship in her first season with the Tigers. Named On3’s Most Impactful Person in Year 2 of NIL last month, Reese built a significant brand before she had the nation’s attention in April. But she capitalized on the moment, adding 3.6 million social media followers and signing NIL deals with brands like PlayStation and Raising Cane’s. 

She is now leveraging her NIL earnings and brand to give back. According to a release for the new foundation, Reese’s foundation will, “aim to foster equity for girls and underrepresented groups through innovative and impactful initiatives, develop practical solutions to overcome systemic challenges and provide comprehensive resources that empower a new generation of girls to excel in sports and successfully transition to the real world.”

Plans are set for the foundation to host girls basketball camps, financial literacy programs and scholarships. An inaugural event is scheduled for Aug. 19 at Reese’s alma mater, Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore. The “Back-to-School Giveback Block Party” will provide school supplies, backpacks, clothing, food and living essentials to children in need in the community.

NIL has given many athletes the chance to give back to their hometowns and college communities. USC quarterback Caleb Williams has created the Caleb Cares Foundation, focused on anti-bullying, youth empowerment and mental health awareness. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy established the JJ For the Kids foundation, which has worked with a number of children’s hospitals throughout the country.

Angel Reese’s profile soaring in basketball, NIL

Represented by Jeanine Ogbonnaya, Reese averaged a double-double last season. She earned a silver medal on the AmeriCup Team earlier this month and was at the White House in May to celebrate LSU’s national championship. Reese recently made a cameo in a Latto and Cardi B music video.

Nicknamed the “Bayou Barbie” for her on-court demeanor and eyelash extensions and long pink nails, Reese has embraced college athletics’ NIL era. She filed to trademark the nickname and has been openly campaigning for a partnership with the Mattel toy company.

With two years of eligibility remaining, the 21-year-old could decide to go to the WNBA after the 2023 season. That will not be an automatic decision. Reese has a significantly larger social media following than the average WNBA player. The average contract in 2022 in the league was $102,751, just a share of what the college basketball star is making now because of NIL.

Recently, she partially purchased her own Mercedes-Benz EQS580. The retail price is more than $120,000. When the time comes to make a decision, she will be forced to consider how valuable being aligned with the LSU brand really is.

Entering March Madness, Angel Reese had a $371,000 On3 NIL Valuation. Her valuation now is $1.6 million, which is the top-ranked women’s basketball NIL valuation. Reese ranks No. 5 in the On3 NIL 100, which is the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.