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Angel Reese became one of the handful of WNBA players who will be on the cover of the NBA 2K26 video game when it releases later this month, sharing the honor with Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and former New York Knicks great Carmelo Anthony.
The Sky star joined Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson on the WNBA edition covers, which first started with NBA 2K22, when the WNBA had its 25th anniversary.
This image provided by 2K Games in July 2025 shows basketball player Angel Reese on a special edition cover for the video game NBA 2K26. (2K Games via AP)
The announcement came the same day as Reebok announced her signature shoe. The footwear is seen on the cover.
"Of course we do everything BIG. Why not debut my signature shoe on the cover of NBA2K ?!?" she wrote on X.
However, WNBA fans were left stunned that Reese was chosen over Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who received the most All-Star votes from fans this year. While Reese reposted a message on X, saying "being an Angel Reese hater must suck lol," there was plenty of criticism to go around.
🗣️ She’s got next
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 9, 2025
Angel Reese is your #NBA2K26 WNBA Edition Cover Athlete!
Pre-order NBA 2K26 now! pic.twitter.com/TdwIapG1xU
These are the last two NBA 2K (WNBA Edition) video games covers…
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) July 9, 2025
I just can’t understand why they wouldn’t put the most impactful, transcendent & popular women’s basketball player of all time, Caitlin Clark on the cover…
It’s baffling how bad this marketing move is. pic.twitter.com/AcuxVkZpcC
Not even a top 10 player in the WNBA but she gets athlete cover….
— icedoutskullhedz (@icedoutskulhedz) July 9, 2025
Why couldn’t we put the entire WNBA on the cover?
— Gon (@BIGJUSTICE97) July 10, 2025
There is no way in hell Angel Reese should be on a 2k cover before Caitlin Clark.
— Jeffery Mead (@the_jefferymead) July 10, 2025
I will never understand this. You have a generational player in your league. And it’s not Angel Reese. https://t.co/imRKEtkf5A
— Hailey Rae Ostrom (@HaileyOstrom) July 9, 2025
This could go down as one of the worst 2k cover works ever. Firstly, how is Angel Reese getting a cover before Caitlin Clark is crazy work. Secondly, what did Melo do in his NBA career other than score and rebound? He didn’t win any titles. Yea he was on a few all-NBA teams… https://t.co/Dvac1X6HVF
— 🚌 (@GuthBus34) July 9, 2025
Reese and Clark will forever be tied together since the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship when LSU defeated Iowa and Reese hit the "you can’t see me" taunt to Clark in the midst of the victory. The two came into the WNBA together with Clark being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 draft. They were on the same All-Star team last year.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, #5, drives to the basket against the Dallas Wings during the second half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on July 9, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
SKY STAR ANGEL REESE REACTS AFTER SLAPPING CLIPBOARD OUT OF COACH'S HAND
Reese is averaging 13.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game for the Sky this season. She was an All-Star last season and will be in the All-Star Game later this month.
NBA 2K general manager Zak Armitage explained to TMZ Sports on Wednesday why Reese was chosen.
"NBA 2K26 is celebrating the bold, the confident, and the visionaries -- and WNBA All-Star Angel Reese carries all that on and off the court," Armitage said.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, and Angel Reese, #5 of the Chicago Sky, look on during the game on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
"In her sophomore year in the WNBA, Angel Reese has made waves, created impactful conversations, and inspired the next generation. She's a storyteller and has helped the WNBA grow its audience."
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
