With Angel Reese getting her signature Barbie Doll, Atlanta hosted its first-ever Barbie Game Day. Already known as the Double Double Barbie, the WNBA star and model sat with the press ahead of the Dream’s clash with the Las Vegas Aces on Monday. That’s when reporter Emmanuel Glaze asked what she felt about all the support that has helped her shine in Atlanta.

“We got Barbie night. We’ve seen so much happen during this year. Has it exceeded your expectations, or is it what you thought could happen coming to Atlanta?” the reporter asked Reese during the pre-game media availability, and the Dream forward didn’t hesitate to praise her team and coach Karl Smesko, who has been pushing for her to become MVP from day one.

“Yeah, I mean, I knew the organization, how they treated their players. I talked to Rhyne [Howard], I talked to Lish [Allisha Gray] before I even got here, and they were like, anything you ever need… there’s nothing that you can’t ask for here, and that just goes to show how much they love us.”

“They care for us genuinely… I love that, and they pour in, also, into our personal brand, and I think that’s also important, too. When you go somewhere, into a new city, you want to try to find ways to pour into the city as much as you can, and they pour right back into you, so they’ve helped put us on the platform.”

Reese said in praise of the organization that is helping her realize her potential. In fact, Dream head coach Karl Smesko spoke about the rebound specialist’s potential just two weeks into the 2026 WNBA season.

“She’s working on different aspects in her game just because she wants to be the best. I’ve already seen development so far, and I think if she keeps working, that she is that she’s gonna be somebody that people are talking about for MVP sometime very soon,” Atlanta Dream head coach Smesko told reporters on May 17.

Whether Angel Reese will be considered among the league’s MVP candidates remains to be seen, but Smesko’s guidance has helped double-double Barbie average her career-best points.

After spending her first two seasons with Chicago, Reese has already surpassed her previous points and steals averages. She is averaging 16.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals. While that may not sound like a lot of progress, she has played 28 games and averaged 30.6 minutes per game, lower than her two seasons with Chicago

Naturally, with everything that Atlanta has given her, the Double-Double Barbie has given back.

Angel Reese Gives Back to the Community in Her “Biggest” Back to School Charity Event Yet

Reese’s Barbie Doll launch was also a collaboration with Reebok because her doll is wearing a copy of the Angel Reese 1 “Barbie” basketball shoes.

“We’re proud to see her Barbie doll debut wearing Angel Reese 1 basketball shoes in this vibrant new Barbie colorway,” Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky said during the launch. However, just days before the Barbie doll launch, Reese gave back to Atlanta, the community that made her rise possible

The Angel C. Reese Foundation organized its fourth Back to School Bash, where they distributed school supplies to 100 families in Atlanta. However, they didn’t just hand out supplies; they turned it into an event where kids could have fun.

The event started at 3:00 pm on August 1st with the venue featuring food trucks, a live DJ, bounce houses, the Atlanta Dream Pop-A-Shot Challenge, and a shoe raffle. Angel Reese was in attendance too and felt overwhelmed by the response.

“Wow. 🤍 This was definitely my biggest Back to School event yet. Atlanta, thank you for showing up and showing out. Seeing so many families and students come together meant the world to me.”

“I hope everyone left feeling a little more prepared and a little more confident heading into this school year. We’re just getting started. More to come from @AngelCReeseOrg,” Reese posted on August 1.

While the Aces beat Atlanta 109-87 on Barbie Game Day, Atlanta’s Barbie scored 23 points and 16 rebounds for her 20th double-double of the season, taking her lead as the player with the most double-doubles ahead of Jessica Shepard.