When Angel Reese burst onto the national stage during her college years, she wasn’t just a dominant basketball player—she was a cultural phenomenon. Known for her fierce competitiveness, unapologetic personality, and iconic celebrations, Reese quickly became one of the most recognizable faces in women’s basketball.

But as she transitioned into the WNBA, many began to notice her interests and priorities extending far beyond the court. From runway appearances to fashion collaborations, Reese has shown an undeniable passion for modeling, and some fans now believe she may value her off-court pursuits more than her professional basketball career.

The evidence of Reese’s modeling aspirations has been present for years. Even during her time at LSU, she cultivated a personal brand that blended athletic excellence with high fashion.

Her social media feeds often showcased not just highlights from games, but also carefully styled photoshoots, partnerships with beauty and clothing brands, and bold statements about her style. Unlike some athletes who shy away from the spotlight when it isn’t about their sport, Reese embraced it fully. She wanted to be seen as more than a player—she wanted to be a personality, an icon, and a model for the next generation.

That ambition has only grown since she entered the professional ranks. While her WNBA rookie season brought ups and downs, Reese continued to expand her modeling profile. She appeared in lifestyle magazines, partnered with major brands, and began cultivating relationships in the fashion industry.

For some players, modeling is a side hustle, a way to make a little extra income or gain visibility. For Reese, it feels like something more—a passion that rivals, and perhaps even eclipses, her commitment to basketball.

This dual identity has caused mixed reactions among fans and analysts. Supporters argue that Reese is simply doing what male athletes have done for decades: leveraging her fame to build multiple streams of success.

They point to players like LeBron James or Russell Westbrook, who have become cultural icons as much for their style and business ventures as their on-court dominance. Why should Reese be held to a different standard? If she has the charisma, the beauty, and the vision to succeed in modeling, then embracing it alongside basketball is not a betrayal—it’s an expansion of what it means to be a modern athlete.

Critics, however, see things differently. Some argue that her modeling pursuits distract from her basketball career, especially when her team struggles or when she posts photoshoots during losing streaks. They accuse her of prioritizing fame and aesthetics over hard work and improvement. In the harsh world of professional sports, where every point, rebound, and turnover is scrutinized, even the perception of a divided focus can be damaging. To those critics, Reese’s modeling is not a complementary ambition but a sign that her heart isn’t fully in the game.

But perhaps this criticism misunderstands Reese entirely. Angel Reese has always made it clear that she does not intend to be boxed in. She is more than a basketball player, more than an athlete. She is a brand, a voice, and an image

. For her, modeling isn’t a hobby—it’s a core part of her identity. She doesn’t see a contradiction between hooping and modeling because, in her mind, both pursuits express who she is. Her dominance on the court showcases her power, while her work in fashion highlights her femininity and confidence. Together, they tell the full story of Angel Reese.

It’s also important to consider the financial realities. WNBA players, even stars, make a fraction of what NBA players earn. While Caitlin Clark’s star power is beginning to force conversations about revenue, the fact remains that endorsement deals, media opportunities, and off-court ventures are often more lucrative for WNBA players than their contracts.

For Reese, modeling isn’t just a passion—it’s a way to secure generational wealth and financial independence. She has repeatedly emphasized that she wants to inspire young women to chase their dreams on and off the court, and pursuing modeling is consistent with that mission.

Still, the optics of “preferring” modeling to basketball can be complicated. Reese was drafted to play in the WNBA, to help elevate the league and to give her team the best chance at success. Fans expect her to dedicate herself fully to that role.

When they see her strutting in designer outfits or headlining fashion spreads, some interpret it as a lack of focus on basketball, even if she’s still putting in the hours on the court. This tension between fan expectations and personal ambition isn’t unique to Reese, but it is magnified because of her polarizing persona.

Yet in many ways, Reese thrives on that tension. She has always been at her best when people doubt her or question her motives. Her defiance of traditional expectations has been part of her story from the beginning, whether it was trash-talking Caitlin Clark on the national stage, embracing the “villain” role in college basketball, or now, balancing her WNBA career with a modeling future. She doesn’t shy away from criticism—she absorbs it and uses it to fuel her.

It’s possible that in time, modeling will become Reese’s primary career, with basketball fading into the background. If that happens, it won’t be a failure—it will be a pivot. Athletes evolve, and careers in sports are short. By pursuing modeling now, Reese is ensuring that her star doesn’t dim when her playing days end. Instead, she’ll step seamlessly into another arena where her personality, style, and confidence can shine.

The truth is, Angel Reese doesn’t have to choose between modeling and basketball. She can love both. She can succeed at both. And she can show the world that athletes—especially women athletes—don’t have to be defined by a single role.

The narrative that she “prefers” modeling over basketball is less about her actual dedication and more about society’s discomfort with women who refuse to conform. Reese’s story isn’t about abandoning the game—it’s about redefining what success looks like on her own terms.

What makes Angel Reese fascinating is not just her skills on the court or her style off it, but the way she blends the two into a single persona. She is at once fierce and glamorous, competitive and elegant, grounded in her craft yet ambitious for something bigger.

Whether she’s posting up in the paint or posing on a runway, she does it with the same unshakable confidence. That is why she captivates fans, confounds critics, and remains one of the most talked-about figures in sports.

As the WNBA grows and the lines between sports, culture, and fashion continue to blur, Angel Reese’s path might actually be the future. Players won’t be limited to the court; they’ll be icons who shape culture in multiple arenas at once. Reese is showing us that future now, even if some aren’t ready to accept it.

And if modeling eventually becomes her main focus, it won’t be because she turned her back on basketball—it will be because she had the courage to follow all her dreams, not just the ones people wanted for her.