In her time in the limelight, Angel Reese has emerged as a formidable voice outside basketball. While most of the WNBA community is awestruck by fierce energy and rebounding, there’s a flip side to Reese’s life that recently got her a major honor, alongside a two-time WNBA All-Star.

Reese has been named to the 2026 Create & Cultivate 100 list, truly solidifying her status as one of the most touted women icons. She joins two-time WNBA All-Star and 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year Chiney Ogwumike for this major off-court honor.

The Create & Cultivate 100 List isn’t just any typical influencer list. It’s a testament to the women who are redefining the current era in their own way. Create & Cultivate CEO Marina Middleton raved about the women associated with the list in a recent statement.

“Create & Cultivate’s 100 List honors the women who are building, leading, and influencing at scale. They are moving markets, shaping culture, and making decisions that matter. We evolve right alongside them,” Middleton said as per Forbes.

And to be honest, Angel Reese fits into this description perfectly.

Reese has never been a one-trick pony. Of course, basketball is her primary domain, giving her the most popularity worldwide. But she isn’t just limited to it, as she is completing every side hustle to portray herself as a brand that goes much beyond the hardwood, similar to Chiney Ogwumike, who has made a swift transition to sports broadcasting from the WNBA.

Angel Reese has been at the heart of a perfect collaboration between fashion and sports. Last year, we saw the Atlanta forward catch attention after walking the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Furthermore, Reese also attended several Met Gala events that defined her exotic fashion choices.

Besides fashion, Reese has also transcended her footing in the Hollywood circuit. Earlier this year, ChiBarbie headlined an animated sports comedy film that also featured Steph Curry. She has been creating a stir through her sponsorship commitments as well. Reese became a cornerstone of Reebok’s return to the WNBA with her association with the brand.

She even got a signature shoe, the Reebok AR 1, from the brand last year. In addition, ChiBarbie has partnerships with brands such as The Hershey Company and Cash App. Reese isn’t just thriving on such partnership deals, though.

Instead, she is building her space from scratch. The Unapologetically Angel podcast is one of Reese’s flagship endeavors off-court, where she exposes her raw side while engaging with her guests. On top of that, Reese is also a part-owner of the DC Power FC, expanding her impact to the ownership spectrum.

These endeavors have played a major role in developing Angel Reese into one of the most formidable WNBA athletes of the current era. As per Kevin Durant’s Boardroom, Reese ranks fourth among the most marketable athletes in the WNBA this season. It mirrors Reese’s overall brand development, making her a perfect fit for the Create & Cultivate list.

Notably, the interesting aspect of Reese’s transition from the hardwood to other spectrums is that she doesn’t force a change in personality. In fact, during a conversation with Create & Cultivate, Reese made a bold assessment regarding it.

“I’m unapologetically myself,” the Atlanta forward said. “I think I’ve shown that you can be confident, expressive, into fashion, into business—and still dominate on the court. You don’t have to fit into one box.”

But all of these off-court activities aren’t just Reese’s steps toward establishing herself as a marketable powerhouse. Instead, it’s directed towards her long-term sustainability.

Angel Reese Makes Her Feelings Known Behind Her Brand Development

Angel Reese’s off-court activities might raise a question: Why is the Atlanta forward emphasizing these activities so much rather than focusing solely on basketball? After all, she is one of the league’s touted players, having won the WNBA Rebounding Leader Award twice. The answer lies in her life outside basketball.

“I know that basketball doesn’t last forever, so I want to continue to build my empire—across business, fashion, media, giving back through my foundation, and more,” Reese said during a conversation with Create & Cultivate.

Notably, Reese isn’t just preserving her legacy for a life after retirement. But in the process, the Atlanta forward is also uplifting the underrepresented youth through education and sports via her Angel C. Reese Foundation. Building all of it by the age of 24 takes sheer guts, and Reese has just nailed it.

And to be honest, her path to even more stardom and brand enhancement is just getting started. That’s a discussion for the future, though. For now, she continues her first season with the Atlanta Dream. Her team is thriving this season, currently 3-7 and sitting atop the Eastern Conference. They face the Chicago Sky up next on June 9 at the Wintrust Arena.