After months of social media teasers, Angel Reese’s signature sneaker finally dropped Thursday morning, with Reebok unveiling the complete details of the Angel Reese 1. The reactions flooding in from fans worldwide tell a story of divided opinions: some celebrating a milestone, others questioning the design and market appeal.
Why Are Fans So Divided on Angel Reese’s First Signature Shoe?
Originally slated for a 2026 release, the drop moved up to September 18 due to overwhelming fan interest. Reese, only in her sophomore WNBA season, becomes the second player in the league’s history to launch a signature shoe with Reebok and the first to do so in almost three decades.
The 23-year-old expressed her enthusiasm in a statement, saying, “This isn’t just a shoe, it’s my style, my story, and my stamp on the game. I wanted to design a basketball shoe that elevates performance, innovation, style, and creative expression, all at once. Reebok and I built something that’s true to who I am, and I hope it pushes others to stand in their power too. At the end of the day, it’s built for basketball, made to move and perform at the highest level.”
OFFICIAL: Three colorways of the Reebok Angel Reese 1 will release on September 18th for $120 🗓️💵 @Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/k2uepYsAN0
— Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) August 14, 2025
While Reese remains optimistic about the launch, fans quickly shifted from excitement to criticism. What started as anticipation turned into ridicule, with some fans calling the shoe line ugly.
I’m sorry, but these are so ugly 😅
— Rachel (@allthedogspleaz) August 14, 2025
Others took aim at Reebok itself, arguing the company should have done a better job for Reese’s debut signature shoe.
Reebok could have done better. It’s Reese here, come on.
— Honey (@FlowerlySuki) August 14, 2025
Some fans predicted commercial failure, bluntly stating that these shoes will end up in TJ Maxx pretty soon at discounted prices.
If you wait a week, they will be $14.99 in TJ Maxx and Marshalls
— JC (@JCspinnaker) August 14, 2025
The financial concerns continued across social media, with users suggesting Reebok is going to lose money with this line.
The amount of money they are going to lose over this pic.twitter.com/gCskNlQncd
— Blazin420 (@OregonMafia420) August 14, 2025
However, the negative comments didn’t drown out Reese’s supporters. Some celebrated the launch as a milestone moment for women’s basketball, while others predicted the shoes will sell out soon enough.
It will sell out
— Confido🫶 (@ConfidoWeb3) August 14, 2025
Among the three colorways, reactions varied by design. While some fans gravitated toward the all-pink variant, many specifically fell in love with the black and white variant.
The black and whites 🥰🥰
— Saint Petty – Nut Up Or Shut Up (@CougarTrainee) August 14, 2025
Regardless of public opinion, Reese’s shoe launch represents a significant step toward greater visibility for women’s sports.
What Makes the Angel Reese 1 Different From Other Basketball Shoes?
The first release features three distinct colorways: Diamond Dust (white with mother-of-pearl accents), Receipts Ready (black and white with red accents), and Mebounds (the all-pink variant). Each design draws inspiration from Reese’s personality, career milestones, and unapologetic style.
Priced at $120, the shoes will be available globally through Reebok’s official website and select retailers starting September 18.
MORE: What Happened to Angel Reese? WNBA Insider Reveals Devastating Update on Sky Star’s Injury
The performance specifications include Reebok’s Energy Return System (ERS) cushioning, nitrogen-infused SuperFloat foam for impact absorption, a TPU stability cup for support, and a high-abrasion rubber outsole for traction.
Design inspiration comes from the brand’s Mobius line, featuring a wing-shaped exoskeleton upper and Reese’s AR logo on the tongue. For Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky, this launch represents “the next chapter for Reebok Basketball,” highlighting Reese’s unique mix of elegance and strength in the design.
I’m not a fan of Angel Reese, but I see nothing wrong with these shoes.
Here we go again with a writer choosing to write an article on Angel Reese while taking the opportunity to re-post negative comments from people that you know are not fans of Angel Reese. I miss the days when written were actually held to a standard and had some integrity. Its is very obvious what your motive is and was when you formatted this whole take a shot at Angel Reese’s shoe release article. You all pray for her downfall and her failure, but the failures that you all pray she receives will be your own downfalls. Angel Reese is protected by the Most High and none of you negative human beings will be able to stop what has already been ordained for her life! So, continue with your negative smear campaign and being a below average author while Angel Reese continues to shine and get better and better on and off the court. You do know that doing the devil’s work will not get you into Heaven right.
Atvthevendvof the day, they’re still Reebok 😂