07/24/26 04:29:00
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07/24 16:28 CDT Angel Reese gets her own Barbie doll in return to Chicago for
WNBA All-Star Game
Angel Reese gets her own Barbie doll in return to Chicago for WNBA All-Star Game
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- Bayou Barbie is back in Chicago. With her own Barbie, too.
Angel Reese is playing in her third WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday at the
United Center. This time, she is representing Atlanta in her first season with
the Dream following a messy split with the Chicago Sky.
"It's so crazy, full circle," Reese said, "I'm back here in Chicago, again,
where it kind of all started. ... Coming to Atlanta, I mean it's been a dream
come true, literally. It's helped me in so many different ways."
Reese, 24, is on "Team Coop" for this weekend's showcase event, alongside
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and four-time MVP A'ja Wilson of the Las
Vegas Aces headline "Team Spoon."
WNBA greats Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the All-Star teams
from players that were either voted as starters by fans, media and fellow
players or chosen as reserves by the league's coaches. Las Vegas' Becky Hammon
is coaching Cooper's team, and Minnesota's Cheryl Reeve is in charge of
Weatherspoon's squad.
"Honestly I'm just really happy to be here and be surrounded by so many amazing
women and All-Stars and Hall of Famers and people that I've looked up to my
entire life," Bueckers said. "I never want to take these moments for granted
and just really soak it up and enjoy building relationships with people."
Minnesota guard Olivia Miles, part of "Team Spoon," is the only rookie picked
for the All-Star Game in the WNBA's 30th season. The No. 2 pick in this year's
draft is averaging 19.3 points and 5.9 assists in 26 games for the Lynx.
"It's definitely weird being the only rookie, but I know I belong and I'm happy
to be here," Miles said. "It's an honor. Definitely grateful, and yeah, just
soaking it all in."
Reese starred at LSU before she was selected by Chicago with the No. 7 pick in
the 2024 draft. The 6-foot-4 forward earned the nickname "Bayou Barbie" while
helping the Tigers win the 2023 national championship.
Fast forward to Friday, when Mattel unveiled a Reese Barbie doll with a pink
Angel No. 5 jersey and special Reebok basketball shoes.
"I remember, I think it's been three years now, since the Bayou Barbie came
about when I was in Baton Rouge, and I used to put Barbie stuff on merch and
stuff, and I wasn't really supposed to," Reese said. "So I told them I really
wanted to have a Barbie doll one day, and to have Barbie is like, you got to be
iconic."
Reese averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds over his first two seasons with
Chicago. But the Sky won just 23 games in her two years with the team.
Reese was critical of Chicago's play at the end of last season. She apologized
to the team for her comments and was suspended for the first half of a game
against Las Vegas.
She was shipped off to her new home in April, traded to the Dream for two
first-round draft picks.
"The double-doubles, they don't matter unless we're winning," Reese said. "So
I'm just really happy to be with Atlanta. They have welcomed me with open arms.
It feels like a really safe place for me. It's the safest I've ever felt, the
most loved I've ever felt. And I'm really happy be with them."
Atlanta is 16-10 at the break, and Chicago has a 9-18 record. Reese is one of
three All-Stars from the Dream, joining Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
While Reese is suiting up for "Team Coop," Howard and Gray are playing for
"Team Spoon." Weatherspoon coached Chicago during Reese's rookie year.
"I love her. Like you see her, she's so positive," Reese said of Weatherspoon.
"She comes in every day and just is always just happy. And you just want
somebody in your life like that. And she's a legend. She's a legend of the
game. She's done a lot of amazing things that I want to do as well."
___
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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