Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has flipped the script on a season’s worth of online barbs by embracing the mocking “MeBounds” label. She skillfully turned it into a pending trademark for apparel, just days after the term exploded across social media.
The 23‑year‑old phenom has been riding with an astonishing 11.7 rebounds per game and notched her first career triple‑double (11 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists) against the Connecticut Sun. But she has endured a rocky 2–6 start to the 2025 campaign and savage fan criticism that even prompted guard Ariel Atkins to step in and defend her at a postgame press conference.
Angel Reese Files ‘MeBounds’ for Trademark, Tackling Cyberbullying Head-On
In a shrewd legal maneuver, Reese submitted an application on June 14 to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the term “MeBounds,” a mocking label originally coined by a TikTok user to lampoon her knack for rebounding her own missed shots. Following this, she cheekily shared a new post on Thursday, declaring that the “MeBounds” merch is available for grabs.
According to her X post from June 19, she announced, “MEBOUNDS, REESEBOUNDS, REBOUNDS… MERCH AVAILABLE NOW! Part of the proceeds are going to go to the Angel C. Reese foundation to help fight against cyberbullying! SHOP NOW! LINK IN BIO!!”.
MEBOUNDS, REESEBOUNDS, REBOUNDS… MERCH AVAILABLE NOW! Part of the proceeds are going to go to the Angel C. Reese foundation to help fight against cyberbullying! SHOP NOW! LINK IN BIO!! 🤭💗💓💞🏀 #hatingpaystoo💋https://t.co/xjzit0ZEc7 pic.twitter.com/fuX4IrKSHh
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) June 20, 2025
According to FOX News, the patent covers a range of casual wear, including T‑shirts, hoodies, and caps. As of June 19, the filing was still pending. However, it positions the 23‑year‑old star to potentially reap six‑figure returns from merchandise once the mark is approved.
This branding play arrives amid relentless online scrutiny of Reese’s on‑court performance and off‑court persona. Fans had lambasted her shot selection and rebounding of her own misses, coining “mebounds” as shorthand for her perceived flaws.
Earlier, in a playful TikTok announcement, Reese quipped, “Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing, y’all ate that up. Because ‘mebounds,’ rebounds, crebounds… anything that comes off that board, it’s mine. And a brand? That’s six figures right there.”
The Chicago Sky star put her foot down on cyberbullying and asserted that no amount of it would slow her down. In a tongue‑in‑cheek manner, she declared on using the term more positively and giving back to the community, especially to victims of cyberbullying.
“The trolling, I love when y’all do it because, like, the ideas be good.[…] But, when y’all came up with ‘mebounds,’ y’all ate up on that one thing,” she said.
Rather than let negativity fester, Reese is directing a portion of her “MeBounds” merch proceeds toward her Angel C. Reese Foundation. She launched the charity in 2023 to foster equity for young women and combat cyberbullying.
Reese Gets All-Out Support From Teammate Amid Online Scrutiny
After a lopsided loss to the New York Liberty on June 10, Reese endured fresh volleys of social‑media hate, only to be staunchly defended by Atkins. The team bond and sportsmanship even echoed in the NBA world as the Milwaukee Bucks star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, lauded Atkins for standing up for her teammate.
Atkins declared, “This is a 23-year-old kid. And the amount of crap that she gets on a day to day, she still shows up. So whatever questions y’all got, about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. But all the other nonsense, it’s irrelevant.”
“This is a 23-year-old kid who handles herself with grace. Her crown is heavy.”
Ariel Atkins had Angel Reese’s back in the postgame media Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/D7ZuibFCJH
— espnW (@espnW) June 11, 2025
This bold pivot comes amid a season in which Reese has already notched her first career triple‑double in a 78‑66 victory over the Connecticut Sun, becoming the second‑youngest player in league history to do so. She grabbed another double-double (17 points and 10 rebounds) against the Washington Mystics on June 17.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky (3–8) looks ahead to meeting the Phoenix Mercury at home on June 21 before traveling to face the Atlanta Dream on June 22.
