LSU Country

LSU's Angel Reese Cashing In Following National Championship

Reese continues her run as one of the top NIL earners, locking in endorsement deals galore.
Zack Nagy|
LSU's Angel Reese Cashing In Following National Championship
LSU's Angel Reese Cashing In Following National Championship

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LSU Tigers

It’s safe to say LSU forward Angel Reese is living in the moment following the Tigers’ National Championship victory over Iowa on Sunday. The All-American has been on a social media tour over the last few days, appearing on several podcasts and television shows ever since the win.

Reese is in the midst of history. She played a major role in claiming LSU’s first-ever title for the program, but she’s also dominating off the floor. From a social media perspective, it’s been eye-opening what she’s done.

The numbers are astounding. The NIL deals are flowing. The off-court success is alarming.

Social Media Following

Reese arrived in Baton Rouge with roughly 70,000 followers on Instagram. Once the 2023 NCAA Tournament started, she sat around the 420,000 mark. The jump over a nine month span is one that has opened several doors for Reese, but the numbers now are incredible.

After the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament run, the All-SEC forward is shining on all platforms whether it be Instagram, Twitter or Tiktok, her favorite. 

A look into the numbers:

Instagram: 1,400,000 followers

Twitter: 322,000 followers (a jump of over 250,000 followers ever since the National Championship)

Tiktok: 1,500,000 followers (a jump of over 700,000 followers ever since the National Championship)

Reese is blowing up all over social media. She’s the talk of the town and showing no signs of slowing down any time soon as she becomes more marketable. We’ve even see her personal brand, “Bayou Barbie” take off in an even bigger way.

Bayou Barbie Merchandise

Two words: Bayou Barbie. From the eyelashes on the court to the social media rise, Reese is maximizing her name to the fullest. She’s created her own personal brand of clothing with Bayou Barbie and may have even more tricks up her sleeve when it comes to other business ventures.

“Just to be able to grow my brand and be able to be who I am [at LSU], they’ve embraced that here at LSU. I’ve been able to grow on and off the court.,” Reese said. “The Bayou Barbie, I never thought I was going to get that name, but one of the fans called me that and now I have merch and have it trademarked. It’s something big to me. I love how they’ve embraced me here at LSU.”

Reese put her own spin on “Bayou Barbie” and what it’s all about. She’s looking to make a change and inspire the youth by proving anyone can do anything. For her brand, Reese made sure it fit both her and her fanbase.

“My color is pink, of course, and the Barbie theme is pink. I did a big bubble letter with how the Barbie doll is and got a ton of unisex shirts, youth shirts, beanies, sweatpants and shorts. It was something I knew a lot of people would wear and even I would wear.”

The NIL Deals

From Coach to Amazon to Raising Canes, Reese has racked up NIL deals throughout her first season in Baton Rouge, but it’s reaching another level following the national championship victory.

Reese has signed the most NIL deals among any college basketball player (men’s or women’s) and is showing no signs of slowing down. A few deals include: Amazon Merch on Demand, McDonald’s, Sparkling Ice, Xfinity, Wingstop, Outback Steakhouse and Discord as she continues blowing up day by day.

Per On3’s valuation machine, Reese sat around $362,000 before the tournament, but that number has skyrocketed to $876,000 ever since the Tigers' NCAA Tournament run. It’s been a meteoric rise for the All-American as she puts pen to paper over and over again.

Television/Podcast Hits

Good Morning America, I Am Athlete Podcast, ESPN showings, it hasn’t stopped for Reese ever since Sunday’s win. She jokingly posted via Twitter “I haven’t slept in 4 days” and it’s hard to argue against that. Reese has been on a tour. Currently in New York City, she’s visited Tiktok and Instagram headquarters while making television appearances as well.

Reese has been the hottest name on social media over the last few days. It’s hard not to be as popular as she is right now. An athlete who isn’t scared of speaking her mind, she’s become marketable in different ways.

A-List Celebrities Reaching Out

It started with Drake a few months back, but now the list goes on and on. Reese has heard from Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Lil Wayne and more as her rise to stardom continues. She’s doing what most athletes dream of doing.

This isn’t an overnight sensation. This has been a steady rise over the last few months. After catapulting the Tigers atop the national rankings, while averaging over 23 points and 15 rebounds a night, Reese is dominating in all aspects. 

As Reese continues her excellence on the court, it’s a given her status off the court will continue skyrocketing. The Reese Effect has taken the world by storm and the All-American forward understands the monstrous platform she is creating. 

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Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of LSU Country, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Tiger Football, Basketball, Baseball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving LSU athletics. 

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