The look was created by Marvin Baroota, founder of SoLegit Customs.

While the symbolism resonated with many, the execution left some fans scratching their heads. The textured floral elements on the shoe’s exterior, intended to mimic rose petals, were described by critics as “bulky” and “unappealing.” One viral tweet read, “This shoe looks like a science experiment gone wrong—it’s not giving luxury, it’s giving fungus.”

Angel Reese, rose, Reebok Engine A, custom sneakers

Angel Reese and her rose-adorned Reebok Engine A customs.

Marvin Baroota, founder of SoLegit Customs, couldn’t have created a more fitting custom sneaker for Angel Reese ahead of her Unrivaled debut.

The artist reimagined the Reebok Engine A for Reese, the athletic brand’s first performance basketball shoe release since the early 2010s. For Reese, he created a look replete with tonal pink roses that adorn a predominantly green shoe with hits of black.

The rose storytelling is a timely one, as Reese is set to play for Unrivaled — a new three-on-three women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — as a member of the Roses B.C.
Angel Reese, rose, Reebok Engine A, custom sneakersThe rose-adorned Reebok Engine A customs for Angel Reese.Courtesy of SoLegit Customs
Reese’s team — just like the five other in Unrivaled — is stacked. The star forward will play alongside Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes, Kahleah Copper, Azurá Stevens and Lexie Hull.

The first-ever season for Unrivaled tips off Jan. 16 on TNT. At 7 p.m. ET, the Mist B.C. will face the Lunar Owls B.C., and the second game of the night will feature Reese and the Rose B.C. against. the Vinyl B.C. at 8 p.m. ET.

The Backlash

Fans and sneaker enthusiasts didn’t hold back on social media, with many expressing disappointment over the aesthetic. “Reebok had a chance to redefine their brand with Angel Reese, and this is what they came up with?” one comment read. Others argued the design was impractical for both performance and casual wear.

Despite the backlash, some fans defended Reese and the sneaker’s unique design, praising her willingness to take risks. “It’s bold, just like Angel Reese,” one supporter wrote. “Not every shoe needs to look like everything else.”