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“I’m going to be a Victoria’s Secret model one day.” It was the dream of Angel Reese, just like so many Gen Z women who grew up shopping at Victoria’s Secret. For years, she’d imagine herself on that runway, wings and all. And this year, that dream turned into reality as she walked the runway and joined the first class of athletes ever to take part in the iconic show. But this moment wasn’t just about fashion; it was about breaking barriers for Angel Reese and for the WNBA. And right after her runway debut, one Minnesota Lynx star said what so many were feeling. Well, just recently, @backindacloset shared a post on X. It was a clip from a postgame press conference where DiJonai Carrington, the 2024 WNBA Most Improved Player, spoke from the heart. And her words instantly went viral, and honestly, they deserved to. “People are just finally recognising what has always been there and investing in that… in women, and women’s sports, and women athletes, female athletes, whatever,” she said. You could sense it. It was about every woman athlete who’s ever had to fight for a seat at the table. She then added something that truly made people stop scrolling: “Do you think 20 years back, do you think anybody in the WNBA would have said, ‘Yes, in 20 years somebody will be walking the Victoria’s Secret runway’? Absolutely not.” And we agree! Visibility was the WNBA’s greatest struggle for years, not just financial gain. Games were lost on obscure channels, which frequently aired at strange times. In comparison to men’s leagues, marketing budgets were very small. Storytelling was lacking. Additionally, mainstream narratives simply did not stick, even in cases where talent was evident. Casual fans didn’t pay attention since there were no well-known faces or moments of crossover. However, that is shifting. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad “I genuinely believe nobody thought that. And now that that’s happening, imagine what the girls are now dreaming for in 20 years,” Minnesota Lynx guard said, “That was a risk for Angel to take, right? She’s a basketball player… that’s not all she isbut to walk a runway with millions of people, that’s a risk… But she did it for the next generations so that they can say, ‘Oh, she did that, now I can dream of anything.’” That’s the line that stayed with everyone. Because this wasn’t just a runway walk, it was a statement. Angel Reese didn’t just represent herself; she represented every girl watching, every athlete told to “stay in her lane.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad “So I just hope that we continue to give the next generations that representation, continue to take chances, continue to bet on ourselves, and that the brands continue to also bet on us,” that’s how DiJonai Carrington ended her statement. And as soon as the post went viral, fans’ admiration grew louder. Angel Reese’s runway debut sparks real talk One fan commented on a post, saying, “Angel changed the game. Shez running so the new W girls can glide in through doors.” And it’s true. And it’s true. Angel Reese brought that energy to the WNBA that it had not experienced in a long time. Even her matchup against Caitlin Clark averaged 2.25 million viewers on ESPN, a 225% increase from a comparable game the year before. And that’s when everyone realized, Angel, building something bigger. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Off the court, Reese rose to prominence in marketing. In the first-ever collaboration with a WNBA player, she signed with Cash App. She also worked with Reese’s to create limited-edition merchandise that blurred the boundaries between culture and sport. She is currently the league’s most-followed player, a “main character,” with 5.2 million Instagram followers and an expanding TikTok following. Despite all of her fame, she never lost sight of its meaning. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad One more fan added, “We already see WNBA invites to the Met because of Angel so it’s only a matter of time before these women, that want to, step into avenues that work for them. I love it, selfishly, because we get to see them in the off-season more.” Another fan added, “This answer from Dijonai! This is why I correct anyone who says Angel doesn’t care about basketball and wants to quit because of her other ventures. Stop trying to put women in a box. Most won’t give Angel her credit but she is indeed opening doors for the players in the WNBA.” And they’re right. Few athletes ever dared to do what Angel Reese did when she walked for Victoria’s Secret alongside icons like Adriana Lima, Bella, and Gigi Hadid. It was a risk, particularly in a society where female athletes are still advised to “concentrate on the game.” However, Angel made a statement that went well beyond fashion by controlling that runway. Her move might have gone either way for a league that is still struggling to overcome stereotypes and gain the same respect as men’s sports. Rather, it proved that WNBA players don’t have to conform to anyone’s notion of what an athlete “should” be. One more added, “Okay Dijonaiiiiiii! I can see her on TV in the future, very confident, charismatic, eloquent speaker.” Safe to say, fans are loving it. And the best part? Angel didn’t stop there. After the show, Angel Reese announced a long-term contract with Victoria’s Secret, becoming one of the brand’s top ambassadors. She even teased that more projects are on the way. So when fans say, “Angel is changing the landscape of the W,” they mean it. She’s making sure what’s possible, not just for herself, but for every woman who’s ever dreamed beyond the court. As Angel Reese strides forward not just on the runway or the court, but as a trailblazer redefining what’s possible for women in sports and beyond, she ignites a spark that refuses to dim. Her Victoria’s Secret moment isn’t the end of a fairy tale; it’s the opening chapter of a bolder era, where WNBA stars aren’t confined to sidelines but celebrated as multifaceted icons, ambassadors, and dream-weavers. In echoing DiJonai Carrington’s call to bet on ourselves, Reese reminds every young girl with wings in her heart that the barriers of yesterday are merely launchpads for tomorrow’s flights. The W is no longer whispering; it’s roaring, and with voices like these leading the charge, the next 20 years won’t just surprise us; they’ll redefine the game entirely.
