Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has quickly gained recognition as a dominant rebounder in her second WNBA season. However, some fans have criticized her rebounding stats, arguing that many come from multiple chances following her own missed shots. This critique led to the viral coining of the term “mebounds” to describe her rebound style. Reese has addressed this online, showing she is unfazed by the nickname and even hinted at turning it into a trademarked brand.
In a TikTok video, Reese acknowledged the “mebounds” nickname with amusement, stating,
“Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing, y’all ate that up.”
She added,
“Because rebounds, mebounds, keybounds, crebounds, tebounds — anything that comes off that board, it’s mine. And a brand? That’s six figures right there. The trolling, I love when y’all do it because the ideas be good.”
Potential Trademark and Brand Expansion
Reese’s comments have sparked speculation that she might attempt to trademark “mebounds” and explore merchandise opportunities based on the term. She engaged directly with a post on X (formerly Twitter), which suggested this possibility, tagging her agent Jeanine Ogbonnaya in response. This move could formalize what began as an online meme into a valuable personal brand.
Reese’s Rising Career and Records
Since being selected seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft out of LSU, Reese has set a strong foundation in the league. At LSU, she won a national championship in 2023, then broke the WNBA rookie record for the most rebounds in a season with 446. She also established a record for consecutive double-doubles, achieving 15 straight games. These achievements confirm her status as one of the league’s top rebounders early in her career.
Current Season Performance and Challenges
In the ongoing season, Reese’s rebounding average remains impressive at around 13.1 rebounds per game, up from 11.8 the previous year. However, her scoring average has seesawed, dropping from 13.6 points per game last season to 10.3 through the first nine games this year. Her shooting accuracy is also under scrutiny, sitting at 36.3% from the floor. Notably, Reese has collected more total rebounds (106) than points (93) so far this season.
Addressing misconceptions about the “mebounds” label, Reese clarified,
“Because statistically, all the rebounds that I get aren’t always just mine. They’re defensive too or somebody else’s on my team. But yeah, when ya’ll came up with ‘mebounds,’ y’all ate that.”
Team Outlook and Upcoming Games
The Chicago Sky currently hold a 2-7 record this season and are striving to improve as the year progresses. They are scheduled to play against the Connecticut Sun on the road this Sunday at 12 p.m. ET. Reese and her teammates will aim to leverage her rebounding strength and overall team effort to turn the season around.
Significance of Reese’s Growing Influence
Angel Reese’s embrace of the “mebounds” term showcases her ability to capitalize on viral moments and shape her own image in professional basketball. By potentially trademarking the phrase, she could tap into a new revenue stream while reinforcing her brand identity as an elite rebounder. As her WNBA career progresses, Reese’s on-court dominance combined with savvy off-court branding could position her as a standout figure in the league and a role model for aspiring athletes.