Young Angel Reese Held a Bucket on Road for Money’s Sake as WNBA Star’s Mother Unveils on Selfless Sacrifices
Before Angel Reese was even born, two things seemed already set for her: her name and a path along her family’s athletic legacy. And that’s exactly what she has embraced. Her name, Angel, just like her mother’s, and the dream of becoming a basketball player, just like both her parents. The stage was set, but her path wasn’t without its struggles.
Before Angel Reese became a household name, she was just a young girl on the streets of Baltimore, bucket in hand, asking for donations to fund her hoop dreams. Youth sports come with hefty costs, and Reese quickly learned that firsthand. As part of an AAU team, she and her teammates had to raise money to cover travel expenses.
One of the most humbling ways? “Tagging.” This involved teammates spread out on different corners, four on each, hoping that generous community members would pitch in to help them reach their next tournament.
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“I hated tagging,” Angel admitted in a conversation with her mom during a recent episode of Unapologetically Angel. The Chi-Town Barbie recalls sitting out for days, despite the hot weather. “It was a little embarrassing,” her mother, Angel Webb Reese, chimed in. “But also, it was humbling and it paid off because you all got a lot of support from the community.”
It all seems worth it now. Not only for the fact that she led her AUU team, Team Takeover, to Nike EYBL championship, but because of the journey it has turned out to be. If you ask the team’s head coach, Ron James, he’d say, “It’s such a movement and such a need.” Reese’s rise has been an inspiration for those in her former team. Zhen Craft, one of them. “It’s really inspiring … to see someone grow and potentially seeing myself being able to do similar things as that,” she expresses.
Reese hasn’t forgotten her roots. She continues to visit the team, attend their games, and give pointers every so often. But for the community, she is dedicated to fostering equity for girls and underrepresented groups through her foundation. “I want girls everywhere to know they’re in charge of their own athletic journey and that they can do anything,” she had previously stated.
Evidently, Reese had support from those around her. But the crucial of them all? Her mother. And the Chicago Sky star is making it clear that she knows.
Angel Reese’s unforgettable tribute to her mother: a heartfelt journey beyond fame
Her gratitude is clear in the way she honors her mother. One of the most heartfelt tributes? Wearing the No. 10 jersey, just like her mom did back in her playing days. “When you see No. 10, you see the Reese family,” her brother Julian once said. But her love for her mother goes beyond that. Over the years, the 22-year-old Maryland native saw her mom working tirelessly to make ends meet.
“My mom worked hard [when I was] growing up, raising us by herself,” Angel told Women’s Health.
So, she always had a plan to pay her back. But the real moment came when she got into college. Since her college offered her a full scholarship, she was finally able to do it. “That was my payback to her,“ Angel said.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Chi-town Barbie had even more heartwarming surprises. On her mom’s birthday this year, she not only called her during an episode of Unapologetically Angel but also announced, “Your mortgage today has been paid… you ain’t worrying about your mortgage no more.”
For Angel, success isn’t just about making a name for herself. It’s about giving back—to the game, to her family, and to the community that once helped her chase her dreams.
