Angel Reese falls to the lynx, but earns respect—and a nickname—from a WNBA legend

The WNBA offers a bit of everything—thrills, pressure, seasoned vets, rising stars. And every once in a while, a phenomenon joins the mix. Many fans would argue that’s Angel Reese. At just 23 years old, the rising talent has already entered elite territory. She dominates the court, commands a loyal fan base, and now, she’s earned the recognition of a WNBA legend. In fact, she’s been crowned with an iconic new nickname.

On Monday night, Angel Reese did what she does best—shine. The power forward dropped 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, handed out 3 assists, and swatted one shot. It marked her ninth straight double-double in front of the home crowd at Wintrust Arena, though Chicago fell 91–78 to the Minnesota Lynx, the top team in the league. Still, the scoreboard couldn’t dim another stellar showing from the leader of the Sky.

Angel Reese’s impact goes beyond the paint

While Angel Reese did her thing on the court, she also lit up social media and caught the attention of a legend. According to a report by Athlon Sports, Lisa Leslie, Hall of Famer and three-time WNBA MVP, publicly spoke out about her.

“The braided Barbie is a beast.” Short, sharp, and unforgettable. The comment praised Reese’s new hairstyle and celebrated her relentless energy and game presence. What started as a stylish nickname has now taken on symbolic weight. When a legend names you, something shifts.

Lise Leslie is an Angel Reese fan

(via @lisaleslie on IG) pic.twitter.com/H48rbszD2o

— Paolo Songco (@PaoloSongcoNBA) July 15, 2025

Angel Reese is averaging 14 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season. Those numbers make her the driving force behind Chicago and one of the league’s most-followed athletes. Her physical defense, competitive spirit, and synergy with teammates like Kamilla Cardoso make the duo one to watch closely.

Power to her persona

Beyond the nickname, the meaning it carries is even louder. Like it or not, Angel Reese is a main character in this season’s narrative. And her rise is only fueling the MVP conversation. That race is heating up—and Angel Reese is firmly in the mix, thanks to her on-court dominance and off-court presence.

Maybe the braided Barbie will walk away with the crown. Maybe not. But there’s still plenty of basketball left, and Angel Reese has more moves to make.