Number 110
Image source: theangelreese.com
Angel Reese Launches 'Mebounds' Apparel Benefitting Her Foundation
Featured Focus:
Athlete-Driven Impact, Entrepreneurship, Partnerships for Good
Scope of Impact: Global
Angel Reese, the WNBA's dynamic forward, is extending her influence off the court by launching "Mebounds," her official apparel line. This strategic move reclaims a previously weaponized term, transforming negativity into a powerful brand identity. Here’s what you should know:
Turning hate upside down: The "Mebounds" apparel line emerged directly from online criticism of Reese’s numerous misses near the basket that she turned into offensive rebounds. She seized the moment to turn the hate into a brand, and empower individuals along the way.
Giving Back: Her Angel C. Reese Foundation directly benefits from a portion of the proceeds, demonstrating a commitment to social impact, specifically against cyberbullying.
Building her business portfolio: The launch solidifies Reese’s position as a multifaceted athlete-entrepreneur, leveraging her brand and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) for both commercial success and community good.
Ever since she burst onto the scene as a collegiate athlete at LSU, Angel Reese has been unapologetically herself. We love that she’s been keeping that same vibe as a pro in the WNBA, and remained true to her identity, and her beliefs, with the launch of “Mebounds.”
Instead of retreating from the constant online jabs directed at her, she directly addressed the trolls with a defiant and empowering message: "Whoever came up with the 'mebounds' thing, y’all ate that up… anything that comes off that board, it’s mine…" Her subsequent decision to trademark the term and launch a merchandise line around it, coupled with the audacious "#hatingpaystoo" hashtag, is a powerful WIN | WIN move. Angel also gets bonus points for using it to fund her own foundation with a slant towards combatting the same kind of cyberbullying that started this whole effort.
Many fans are even calling Mebounds "the hardest clap-back ever…" and we couldn’t agree more.
Angel Reese took her marketing to the next level with this launch. Other than the brilliant concept, she bookended her launch with a triple double and two double doubles on the court, while owning the boards.
We’re excited to see how much she pushes the envelope with this venture, as there’s SO much room to get creative. One idea we have for Angel is to send a customized Mebounds gift to all her online haters to say thanks for their inspiration. Nothing better than a little shade with a smile.
Obviously, you need to secure one of Angel Reese’s pieces. That’s everyone’s number one priority at this point. But beyond that, this is the perfect nudge to take a page from Reese’s playbook, and figure out how to turn something challenging, negative, or unexpected into a powerful opportunity for good.
