Angel Reese Flips the Script: From Meme to Mogul with Her Bold ‘Mebounds’ Brand

Top 5 Plays of the Day – July 28, 2025

Angel Reese didn’t just troll the WNBA world—she capitalized on it. What began as a viral mockery of her offensive game became a full-fledged business venture, as the Chicago Sky’s sophomore forward turned the term “Mebounds” into a thriving trademarked brand.

🧠 Mocked for a Rebounding Habit, Marketed on Her Terms

An unlikely nickname emerged from social media ridicule: critics dubbed Reese’s way of securing rebounds off her own missed shots as “mebounds.” The term, originally born on Jeff Teague’s Club 520 Podcast, skewered her for prioritizing rebounds over scoring.

But Reese didn’t shy away. Instead, in mid‑June, she reportedly filed to trademark “Mebounds” for merchandise use—fully owning the brand of her critics Reddit+15EssentiallySports+15New York Post+15The Sun.

In a defiant TikTok video, Reese declared:

“Whoever came up with that Mebounds thing… anything that comes off that board, it’s mine.”
With a trademark pending, she became her own PR force—and laid claim to the phrase’s creative control athlonsports.com+2EssentiallySports+2The Sun+2.

👕 Merch Launch: From T‑Shirts to Slides

Soon after, Reese rolled out a full “Mebounds” product line, including:

Oversized T-shirts with “Mebounds” and silhouette graphics

Hoodies, beanies, slides, hats

Flip-flops and limited-edition All-Star shirts

Official collaboration sneaker – Angel Reese 1 Mebounds by Reebok athlonsports.comathlonsports.com+1EssentiallySports+1Wikipedia+3EssentiallySports+3New York Post+3

Retail prices hovered around $45 for apparel; Reese reportedly made six figures in a single day following the launch Talksport+15athlonsports.com+15athlonsports.com+15. Proceeds partially support her Angel C. Reese Foundation, aimed at cyberbullying prevention and youth empowerment Reddit+7athlonsports.com+7clutchpoints.com+7.

📺 Premiering in Plain View

On a recent Sunday night, Reese intentionally wore the black “Mebounds” tee before her match against the Minnesota Lynx. With flips, Nike shorts, Beats headphones—and even coordinating roller-skates—she ensured the camera caught the look, turning her outfit into a statement moment New York Post+10athlonsports.com+10Bleacher Report+10.

She later told reporters:

“I try to make as much money when I’m sleeping as when I’m awake… running my own brand is smart—why not benefit from it now?” athlonsports.com+10Bleacher Report+10OutKick+10

📈 Numbers That Speak—On and Off the Court

The branding hustle reflects her record-breaking performance:

Averaging 12.4–12.6 points, 12.3–12.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in her second WNBA season Talksport+9PFSN+9The Sun+9Talksport+9athlonsports.com+9athlonsports.com+9.

Became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 points and 500 rebounds—in just 38 games Wikipedia.

Made WNBA history by recording five consecutive games with 15+ rebounds, the first in league annals to do so PFSN+1The Sun+1.

Off the court, she signed endorsement deals with Reebok, Reese’s (Hershey’s brand), Cash App, and others—and will be featured on the NBA 2K26 WNBA cover Talksport+1EssentiallySports+1.

💡 Cultural Shift: Empowerment via Branding

Angel Reese’s move symbolizes a larger shift in women’s sports branding—turning mockery into muscle.

One example: Dave Portnoy, long a vocal critic, reversed course after Reese’s trademark move. He called it “brilliant,” noting her strategic savvy despite past criticisms Reddit+3Talksport+3New York Post+3New York Post.

Reese is also part of a cultural triangle with rival Caitlin Clark, media attention framed as a generational dynamic reminiscent of Magic Johnson–Larry Bird, and credited with pushing WNBA to invest in player welfare like charter flights and updated CBA negotiations Bleacher Report+15Talksport+15The Sun+15.

🎯 From Troll to Trendsetter

Here’s a quick snapshot:

Phase
What Happened
Turning Point

Mocking phase
Critics coined “mebounds” to mock her rebounds
Reese filed trademark; embraced term publicly

Launch phase
Merchandise line launched mid‑June
Sold out shirts, multiple product categories

Public statement
Wore logo tee visibly on Sunday night
Cameras showed her branding front-and-center

Brand integration
Launched Reebok sneaker, partnered with Reese’s
Leveraged mainstream brands and licensing deals

Philanthropy
Merchandise proceeds support cyberbullying fight
Reinforced personal mission beyond basketball

Reese transformed jokes into opportunities. The “Mebounds” phrase now adorns products—from tees to slides to sneakers—and fans willingly buy into the shift.

🌍 Standing Tall Through Controversy

Angel Reese’s year has not been without drama:

Her heated rivalry with Caitlin Clark made headlines, leading to racial backlash, technical fouls, and league investigations Wikipedia+15Talksport+15EssentiallySports+15New York Post+4The Sun+4OutKick+4Reddit+8OutKick+8The Times of India+8Bleacher Report+1Reddit+1Reddit+8Talksport+8Wikipedia+8The Sun+11athlonsports.com+11athlonsports.com+11.

The Chicago Sky have endured a tough season (currently near the bottom of standings), and Reese is one technical away from suspension, which would cost her pay and potential platform exposure The Sun+8Talksport+8Talksport+8.

Still, criticisms seem to fuel her branding and performance.

💼 Why This Strategy Works

Control the Narrative
Instead of letting critics define her, Reese reclaimed “Mebounds” as a marketing identity. Trademarking allows ownership, revenue, and creative direction—all on her terms EssentiallySportsThe Sun.

Match Performance with Personality
Her on-court dominance—specifically in rebounding—is inseparable from the branding. “Mebounds” resonates because her stats validate it.

Cross-Platform Reach
Partnerships with Reebok, Reese’s candy, McDonald’s, NBA 2K, and fashion collaborators offer reach far beyond women’s basketball fandom RedditWikipediaThe Times of India.

Purpose Behind the Profit
Allocating proceeds toward cyberbullying prevention, with a foundation in her name, underscores intent beyond commerce athlonsports.com.

🤯 Conclusion

What started as social media trolling transformed into one of the most compelling athlete branding stories of the year. Angel Reese’s “Mebounds” went from insult to industry—turning issue into income, criticism into creativity, and mockery into marketing gold.

She’s proven that behind every viral jab lies opportunity—if you have the vision, the brand savvy, and the professionalism to seize it.

And while her rivalry with Caitlin Clark continues, Reese is writing her own narrative—rebounding critics, seizing control, and solidifying her place as a business-savvy force in women’s sports.

She may be just 23—and in only her second WNBA season—but Angel Reese has already shown she knows how to turn offense into opportunity, on-court performance into currency, and online taunts into trademarked triumph.